Daily interactions in the parent–adult child tie: Links between children’s problems and parents’ diurnal cortisol rhythms

Highlights • We conducted a daily diary study in which middle aged respondents reported their daily social interactions with their adult children and provided saliva which was assayed for cortisol. • We examined whether daily social interactions (negative and positive) with children who suffer problems (e.g., health problems, trouble with the law, financial trouble) were associated with parents’ diurnal cortisol rhythms. • Parents have more negative interactions with children who suffer problems but no fewer positive interactions with those children. • Negative interactions were associated with cortisol but differentially for interactions with children who suffer health vs. lifestyle problems (e.g. trouble with the law). • Interactions with children who suffer lifestyle problems appear to have more lingering effects on parents’ cortisol responses.