Effects of Foster Mothers’ Sensitivity on Blunted Early Morning Cortisol Levels in Young Children a Year after Placement

We assessed whether foster parent’s sensitivity is associated with increases in child wakeup cortisol and normalizing of the diurnal rhythm. Greater parental sensitivity at placement predicted increases in morning cortisol 12-months later, producing a more robust cortisol rhythm. Parental sensitivity may be supporting recovery in maltreated young children.