Perceived stress, Information processing, cortisol levels and sleep quality in children

Abstract

Perceived daily stress, cortisol levels, information processing and sleep quality were investigated in children. Fifty-three schoolchildren (66% males) from 8 to 13 years old were studied (M = 10.52, SD =1.36) in San Luis city, Argentina. The Children's daily stress inventory, the Kaufman assessment Battery for Children, and the Children’s sleep Habits Questionnaire, Spanish version, were used. Participants were classified in two groups according to perceived stress: 1) High:

Children with scores above average plus 1 SD on stress inventory and 2) Low: Children with scores below average minus 1 SD . The high stress group showed lower morning levels of cortisol (p=0.050) and lower performance on the Kaufman and Kaufman) Battery: number recall and word order (p=0.014 in both). These tests evaluate attention, audio-vocal and visual-motor communication channels and auditory working memory. Girls had higher stress perception (p=0.004), and lower quality of sleep (p=0.000) than boys. Results suggest that stress in schoolchildren alters the circadian rhythm of cortisol, the sequential information processing and the sleep quality, in the latter the girls being the most affected.