Economic instability and household chaos relate to cortisol for children in poverty.

The present study investigated relations among various aspects of economic adversity and cortisol levels for young children facing economic hardship. Specifically, the study examined relations to cortisol for variables representing family income, material hardship, financial strain, economic instability, and household chaos. Participants were 374 children, ages 3-5 years, who attended a Head Start preschool, as well as their primary caregivers....