Cortisol and testosterone concentrations during the prenatal and postpartum period forecast later caregiving quality in mothers and fathers.

Given that parental caregiving quality affects child development from birth onwards, it is important to detect parents who are at risk for low-quality caregiving as early as possible, preferably before or soon after birth. This study investigated whether cortisol (CORT) and testosterone (T) measured during the last trimester of pregnancy and six weeks postpartum were associated with observed caregiving quality at child age 3 in mothers (N = 63) and fathers (N = 45). CORT and T were measured during an interaction with a simulator infant (pregnancy) and their own infant (postpartum).

Reliability of the assessment of lumbar range of motion and maximal isometric strength.

Objective: To examine the interobserver reliability and intrasubject variability of the assessment of lumbar range of motion (ROM) and maximal isometric strength in asymptomatic subjects by using commercially available equipment.

Design: A cross-sectional repeated-measures design.

Setting: Ambulatory care in a university hospital.