Table 1.
Demographic characteristics and cortisol samples values (n = 123)
| Variable | n (%) or M (SD) |
| Child | |
| Male | 68 (55.30%) |
| Gestational age, weeks | 38.44 (2.28) |
| Birth weight, g | 3,228.71 (615.49) |
| Head circumference, cm | 33.75 (1.79) |
| Birth length, cm | 49.71 (3.59) |
| Baseline emotional statea | 1.30 (0.79) |
| Behavioral dysregulationb | 2.62 (4.53) |
| Caregiver | |
| Race, Black | 6 (4.90%) |
| Single | 68 (55.30%) |
| Socioeconomic status | 24.23 (9.35) |
| Prenatal MA use, days per week | 1.74 (1.81) |
| Prenatal alcohol use | 47 (38.20%) |
| Prenatal marijuana use | 43 (35.00%) |
| Prenatal tobacco use | 95 (77.20%) |
| Postnatal MA use | 19 (15.40%) |
| Postnatal alcohol use | 58 (47.20%) |
| Postnatal marijuana use | 13 (10.60%) |
| Psychopathologyc | 41 (36.00%) |
| Caregiver physical abuse potentiald | 127.76 (94.46) |
| Cortisol | |
| Baselinee | 0.18 (0.21) |
| Reactivitye | 0.13 (0.11) |
| Mean changee | −0.05 (0.15) |
| Increased response | 39 (31.70%) |
| Blunted response | 84 (68.30%) |
Notes: MA = methamphetamine.
a
Evaluated on a 5-point scale: calm (1) to very highly agitated (5).
b
Assessed by the Early Social Communication Scales as the number of child’s failures in responding to behavioral requests.
c
Evaluated with the Brief Symptom Inventory; psychopathology denoted by a T score ≥ 63 on the Global Severity Index, or on any two primary dimensions.
d
Assessed by Child Abuse Potential Inventory. The score indicates mild to moderate potential for physical abuse.
e
Cortisol levels in μg/dl. The analyzed cortisol data have been log transformed.