探討陌生人壓力源與害羞學齡前兒童的唾液皮質醇濃度變化之關聯

Salivary Cortisol Level Changes in Shy Preschoolers When Confronted with a Stranger

皮質醇是了解兒童在壓力情境下生理反應的重要指標之一。本研究主要目的是深入探究陌生人壓力源與害羞學齡前兒童的唾液皮質醇濃度變化之關聯。研究對象有 16位害羞兒童， 17位非害羞兒童，這些兒童是依據家長填寫行為量表，以及教師長期觀察之下交相驗證下產生的。壓力情境是採陌生人趨近的設計，壓力反應指標是以壓力情境前後及壓力剛結束的恢復時段等三個階段的唾液皮質醇，以暸解害羞與非害羞兒童在皮質醇基礎值、陌生人趨進以及恢復期的差異。結果發現在壓力情境前，兩組兒童在皮質醇基礎濃度並無顯著相關，但在陌生人情境後與壓力後 15分鐘的恢復階段中，與非害羞兒童相比，害羞兒童的皮質醇有顯著提高，以及降至基礎濃度速度較慢。依結果建議成人應協助害羞兒童生理調節，增加兒童唾液皮質醇的檢體，分析行為資料，及以多元生理的評估交相驗證兒童的反應。

Cortisol level is an important biological indicator of stress response in children. This study aims to examine the changes in salivary cortisol level of shy preschoolers when confronted with the stress of meeting a stranger. The subjects were 33 five-and-a-half year olds (16 shy and 17 non-shy as determined by their parents and teachers). The test was conducted at their kindergarten during a stranger-approach task designed to elicit stress. Saliva samples were taken at three stages: before the stressor， after the stressor， and during recovery from the stressor， and the salivary cortisol responses examined. The results indicated (1)no significant difference between the baseline cortisol level of shy and non-shy children， (2)shy children were distinguishable from non-shy children in their significant cortisol elevation during stranger approach， and (3)during the 15 minutes recovery stage， the return to baseline cortisol level was slower for shy children. Based on the results， to help shy children to regulate emotion， increase the numbers of collecting salivary cortisol ， behavioral analysis and multiple biological assessment should be corroborated to assist shy children in their adjustments.