Whereas the subject of harsh parenting has been a source of debate for many years, research has shown that harsh parenting practices are associated with an increase in behavioral problems, including aggression toward others. However, not all youth who have been subjected to harsh parenting develop problems. Researchers have begun examining moderators of the effects of harsh parenting and other psychosocial stressors, specifically whether functioning in physiological stress response systems buffers or exacerbates the effects of harsh parenting on later functioning. Research also suggests that exposure to stressful situations (including harsh parenting) may affect the biological stress system. In particular, individuals who experienced stressful situations in the past may show different physiological responses to future stressors than individuals who did not experience such stressors.

The current study examined the relationship between young adults’ reports of harsh parenting practices to which they were exposed during two developmental periods and self-reported aggression during young adulthood. In addition, the study examined whether activity in the physiological stress response systems functions as a mediator or moderator in the effects of harsh parenting on later aggressive behavior. Activity within the biological stress response was measured through salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and salivary cortisol in response to the Trier Social Stress Task.

Results show that individuals who reported having been subjected to more harsh parenting practices also reported engaging in more physical aggression, anger and hostility. Harsh parenting practices did not account for a significant amount of difference in sAA or cortisol at baseline or in response to the TSST. However, salivary cortisol was found to be a moderator in the relationship between harsh parenting experienced during adolescence and current report of physical aggression toward others. Whereas this study lends support to the idea that harsh parenting practices may lead to more negative behavioral outcomes, there was no support for the idea that harsh parenting practices lead to an alteration of the biological stress response. The role of cortisol as a moderator in the relationship between harsh parenting and aggressive outcomes provides support for the idea of “biological sensitivity to context,” and should be further investigated.