Hair Sampling for Cortisol Analysis with Mother-Toddler Dyads Living in Low-Income Homes

In a study aimed at advancing stress science research in young children, researchers investigated the feasibility of collecting hair samples for cortisol analysis from mother-toddler dyads living in low-income homes in the U.S. Out of 142 approached mother-toddler pairs, 94 (66%) agreed to participate, with hairstyle being the most common reason for refusal. The process involved cutting approximately 150 hairs from both the mother's and toddler's scalp, demonstrated using a hairstyling doll and rounded-end thinning shears during home visits. The study found that nearly all hair samples collected were of adequate weight for cortisol extraction, indicating that hair sampling in this demographic is feasible for stress research.