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Child maltreatment and allostatic load: Consequences for physical and mental health in children from low-income families

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2011

Fred A. Rogosch ,
Melissa N. Dackis  and
Dante Cicchetti
Fred A. Rogosch*
Affiliation:
Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
Melissa N. Dackis
Affiliation:
Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
Dante Cicchetti*
Affiliation:
Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Fred Rogosch, Mt. Hope Family Center, 187 Edinburgh Stree, Rochester, NY 14608; E-mail: fred.rogosch@rochester.edu; or Dante Cicchetti, Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, 51 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455; E-mail: cicchett@umn.edu.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Fred Rogosch, Mt. Hope Family Center, 187 Edinburgh Stree, Rochester, NY 14608; E-mail: fred.rogosch@rochester.edu; or Dante Cicchetti, Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, 51 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455; E-mail: cicchett@umn.edu.
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Abstract

Child maltreatment and biomarkers of allostatic load were investigated in relation to child health problems and psychological symptomatology. Participants attended a summer research day camp and included 137 maltreated and 110 nonmaltreated low-income children, who were aged 8 to 10 years (M = 9.42) and racially and ethnically diverse; 52% were male. Measurements obtained included salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandosterone, body mass index, waist–hip ratio, and blood pressure; these indicators provided a composite index of allostatic load. Child self-report and camp adult-rater reports of child symptomatology were obtained; mothers provided information on health problems. The results indicated that higher allostatic load and child maltreatment status independently predicted poorer health outcomes and greater behavior problems. Moderation effects indicated that allostatic load was related to somatic complaints, attention problems, and thought problems only among maltreated children. Risks associated with high waist–hip ratio, low morning cortisol, and high morning dehydroepiandosterone also were related to depressive symptoms only for maltreated children. The results support an allostatic load conceptualization of the impact of high environmental stress and child abuse and neglect on child health and behavioral outcomes and have important implications for long-term physical and mental health.

Type
Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 23 , Issue 4: Allostatic Load: Part 2 , November 2011 , pp. 1107 - 1124
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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