ABSTRACT

This study examines changes in salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase among grandparents rearing grandchildren in rural Appalachia. Grandparent-caregivers experience greater stress than non- grandparent-caregivers. Participants included 20 grandparent-caregivers and a child for which they cared, who completed questionnaires assessing family functioning and mental health via interview. Grandparent-caregivers provided morning saliva samples once a year for two years. For grandparent-caregivers low in social support and religiosity, grandparent-caregiver depressive symptoms, child depressive symptoms, and child stress were associated with increased grandparent-caregiver salivary alpha-amylase. For grandparent-caregivers high in social support and religiosity, child depressive symptoms, child stress, and child aggression were associated with increased grandparent-caregiver cortisol.

摘要

本研究调查了在阿巴拉契亚农村抚养孙辈的祖父母唾液皮质醇和α-淀粉酶的变化。祖父母照顾者比非祖父母照顾者承受更大的压力。参与者包括 20 名祖父母照顾者和他们照顾的一名儿童，他们通过访谈完成了评估家庭功能和心理健康的问卷。祖父母看护者每年提供一次早晨唾液样本，持续两年。对于社会支持和宗教信仰较低的祖父母看护者，祖父母看护者抑郁症状、儿童抑郁症状和儿童压力与祖父母看护者唾液α-淀粉酶增加有关。对于社会支持和宗教信仰高、儿童抑郁症状、儿童压力大的祖父母照顾者，