Cortisol production patterns in young children living with birth parents vs children placed in foster care following involvement of Child Protective Services.

Objective: To examine differences in waking to bedtime cortisol production between children who remained with birth parents vs children placed in foster care following involvement of Child Protective Services (CPS).

Design: Between-subject comparison of cortisol patterns among 2 groups of children.

Setting: Children referred from the child welfare system.