Economic Disparities in Parental Hair Cortisol Are Associated With Externalizing Behavior in Children

This study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic factors, parental stress physiology (measured by hair cortisol concentration, HCC), and children's externalizing behaviors in a diverse sample of 5- to 13-year-olds. The findings suggest that lower family income-to-needs ratio is linked to increased parental HCC and emotional distress, which are associated with higher externalizing behavior in children. These results highlight the importance of addressing parental well-being through financial and educational interventions to mitigate the impact of economic disadvantage on children's mental health.