Stress Reactivity of Six-Year-Old Children Involved in Challenging Tasks

Autor/inn/en	Sajaniemi, Nina; Suhonen, Eira; Kontu, Elina; Lindholm, Harri; Hirvonen, Ari
Titel	Stress Reactivity of Six-Year-Old Children Involved in Challenging Tasks
Quelle	In: Early Child Development and Care, 182 (2012) 2, S.175-189 (15 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0300-4430
DOI	10.1080/03004430.2010.549941
Schlagwörter	Stress Variables; Physiology; Biochemistry; Preschool Children; Task Analysis; Films; Stimulation; Evaluation Methods; Responses + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Physiologie; Biochemie; Pre-school age; Preschool age; Child; Children; Pre-school education; Preschool education; Vorschulalter; Kind; Kinder; Vorschulkind; Vorschulkinder; Vorschulerziehung; Vorschule; Aufgabenanalyse; Film
Abstract	The aim of this study was to investigate whether the preschool activities challenge the stress regulative system in children. We used a multi-system approach to evaluate the underlying processes of stress responses and measured both cortisol and [alpha]-amylase responses after emotionally and cognitively challenging tasks followed by a recovery session. We anticipated that challenging tasks would increase both cortisol and [alpha]-amylase levels above the baseline. We further expected that recovery sessions would decrease both levels towards the baseline. In addition, we expected the symmetry of [alpha]-amylase and cortisol reactivity to be related to the ability to orientate towards cognitive demands. The study involved a total of 91 children (42 girls, 49 boys; six-year-olds). Baseline saliva samples were collected during a single day in October 2008. Reactivity saliva samples were collected during one morning in February 2009. During that day, the children first watched a movie with an experimenter who was unfamiliar to the children. After the movie, the children went to another room where the experimenter conducted all the cognitive tasks. These tasks were followed by a recovery session. The baseline cortisol levels indicated an average established function of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical) system in the study children. Contrary to our hypothesis, only 19% of the study children showed the expected pattern of stress reactivity for both cortisol and [alpha]-amylase, with an average increase in cortisol and [alpha]-amylase levels following the challenging tasks. Unexpectedly, cortisol and [alpha]-amylase levels increased significantly in the singing recovery session. The surprising finding that singing seemed to be the only stimulating activity during the entire experimental situation raises questions about preschool practices. (Contains 3 figures and 3 tables.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10