Prenatal stress and child externalizing behavior: effects of maternal perceived stress and cortisol are moderated by child sex

Table 2 Descriptive statistics of study variables

Variables	Full sample					Girls					Boys					Group diff	p
Variables	N	M	SD	Min	Max	N	M	SD	Min	Max	N	M	SD	Min	Max	t	p
cort1	103	2.17	1.27	0.267	7.15	45	2.15	1.22	0.26	5.33	57	2.21	1.32	0.3	7.15	− 0.25	0.802
cort2	98	3.13	1.62	0.7	8.3	45	3.21	1.80	0.7	8.3	52	3.05	1.47	0.7	6.9	0.48	0.631
cort3	98	3.43	1.56	0.267	7.57	45	3.59	1.69	0.37	7.57	52	3.30	1.45	0.27	6.55	0.92	0.361
psq1	107	41.21	20.66	5	88.33	46	41.49	21.32	6.67	88.33	60	41.24	20.42	5	81.67	0.06	0.952
psq2	100	37.60	20.28	0	86.67	44	37.92	18.81	0	81.67	55	37.52	21.69	3.33	86.67	0.10	0.922
psq3	104	39.89	21.77	1.667	98.33	45	39.79	21.54	1.67	86.67	58	39.91	22.32	6.67	98.33	− 0.03	0.977
Novelty seeking	70	26.39	7.71	11	53	29	25.45	6.54	14	39	41	27.05	8.46	11	53	− 0.85	0.362
Conduct problems	70	1.56	1.43	0	6	29	1.48	1.24	0	5	41	1.61	1.56	0	6	− 0.36	0.717
Impulsiveness	68	6.46	3.46	0	14	27	6.18	2.96	1	14	41	6.63	3.77	0	13	− 0.52	0.604

PSQ = Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Cort = Salivary cortisol. 1 = first trimester; 2 = second trimester, 3 = third trimester

ISSN: 1753-2000