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Daneshnia N, Chechko N, Nehls S. Do Parental Hormone Levels Synchronize During the Prenatal and Postpartum Periods? A Systematic Review. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2024:10.1007/s10567-024-00474-7. [PMID: 38615295 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-024-00474-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Physiological synchrony is the phenomenon of linked physiological processes among two or more individuals. Evidence of linkage between dyads has been found among a broad range of physiological indices, including the endocrine systems. During the transition to parenthood, both men and women undergo hormonal changes that facilitate parenting behavior. The present review sought to address the question as to whether hormonal synchronization occurs among expecting or new parents. A systematic literature search yielded 13 eligible records. The evidence of cortisol synchrony during the prenatal period, with additional testosterone, prolactin, and progesterone covariations in the time leading up to childbirth, was found to be most significant. During the postpartum period, parental synchrony was reported for oxytocin, testosterone, and cortisol levels. The implications of these covariations were found to translate into adaptive parenting behaviors and the facilitation of romantic bond. Associations with infant development were also reported, suggesting far-reaching effects of hormonal synchrony outside the parental dyad. The results highlight the importance of physiological interrelatedness during this sensitive period, underscoring the need for further research in this field. In view of the limited data available in this research domain, we have put forward a framework for future studies, recommending the adoption of standardized research protocols and repeated collections of specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Daneshnia
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Natalia Chechko
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM-10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behavior (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Susanne Nehls
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM-10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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2
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Racine N, Wu P, Pagaling R, O'Reilly H, Brunet G, Birken CS, Lorenzetti DL, Madigan S. Maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and early achievement of developmental milestones in infants and young children: A meta-analysis. Infant Ment Health J 2024; 45:121-134. [PMID: 38213016 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.22097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Screening for social determinants of health, including maternal depression, is a recommended pediatric practice. However, the magnitude of association between maternal and child screening tools remains to be determined. The current study evaluated the association between maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and child developmental milestones, as well as moderators of these associations. A comprehensive search strategy was carried out in four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) from database inception to September 2022. Studies that examine postnatal depressive symptoms and associations with infant and early child (<6 years) achievement of developmental milestones were included. Data were extracted by two independent coders and a random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled effect sizes and test for moderators. A total of 38 non-overlapping studies (95,897 participants), all focused on maternal postnatal depression, met inclusion criteria. The pooled effect size for the association between postnatal depressive symptoms and early achievement of infant and child developmental milestones (N = 38; r = -.12; 95% CI = -.18, -.06) was small in magnitude. Child age at maternal depression measurement was a moderator, whereby effect sizes became greater for older children. Despite small effects, maternal postnatal depressive symptoms should be included in screening during routine well-child visits to enhance child development outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Racine
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Pauline Wu
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Rachel Pagaling
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University ofCalgary, and Health Sciences Library, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | | | | | - Catherine S Birken
- Department of Paediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health and Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Sheri Madigan
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University ofCalgary, and Health Sciences Library, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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3
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Bornstein MH, Esposito G. Coregulation: A Multilevel Approach via Biology and Behavior. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1323. [PMID: 37628322 PMCID: PMC10453544 DOI: 10.3390/children10081323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we explore the concept of coregulation, which encompasses the mutual adaptation between partners in response to one another's biology and behavior. Coregulation operates at both biological (hormonal and nervous system) and behavioral (affective and cognitive) levels and plays a crucial role in the development of self-regulation. Coregulation extends beyond the actions of individuals in a dyad and involves interactive contributions of both partners. We use as an example parent-child coregulation, which is pervasive and expected, as it emerges from shared genetic relatedness, cohabitation, continuous interaction, and the influence of common factors like culture, which facilitate interpersonal coregulation. We also highlight the emerging field of neural attunement, which investigates the coordination of brain-based neural activities between individuals, particularly in social interactions. Understanding the mechanisms and significance of neural attunement adds a new dimension to our understanding of coregulation and its implications for parent-child relationships and child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc H. Bornstein
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Trento, Italy;
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Wood EE, Garza R, Clauss N, Short VM, Ciciolla L, Patel D, Byrd-Craven J. The Family Biorhythm: Contributions of the HPA and HPG Axes to Neuroendocrine Attunement. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 9:1-14. [PMID: 37360190 PMCID: PMC10101824 DOI: 10.1007/s40750-023-00215-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Objective The vast majority of research on biobehavioral influences on development has focused on mothers and infants, whereas research on paternal biobehavioral influences remains sparse. This study aims to increase understanding of paternal influences on the biobehavioral dynamics of the family unit, using a multi-system approach. Methods Participants consisted of 32 predominantly high-risk families recruited during pregnancy who completed monthly questionnaires and in-home visits when infants were 4, 12, and 18 months of age. In-home visits included semi-structured interaction tasks and saliva samples for cortisol and progesterone assays. Results Mothers and infants, but not fathers and infants, showed adrenocortical attunement, with the strongest attunement at 18 months. Second, mothers' couple satisfaction did not significantly impact infants' cortisol levels or mother-infant cortisol attunement, but mothers' progesterone moderated the relationship between couple satisfaction and infant cortisol levels such that mothers with low couple satisfaction, but high progesterone, had infants with lower cortisol levels. Finally, mothers' and fathers' progesterone levels were attuned across the time points. Conclusions This is some of the first evidence of the establishment of the family biorhythm and suggests that fathers play an indirect role in facilitating mother-infant adrenocortical attunement. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40750-023-00215-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E. Wood
- Dept. of Psychology, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 603 E. Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820 USA
| | - Ray Garza
- Dept. of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, 5201 University Blvd, Laredo, TX 78041 USA
| | - Nikki Clauss
- Dept. of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | - Victoria M. Short
- The Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN), Dept. of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
- Dept. of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
| | - Lucia Ciciolla
- Dept. of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
| | - Devanshi Patel
- The Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN), Dept. of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
- Dept. of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
| | - Jennifer Byrd-Craven
- The Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN), Dept. of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
- Dept. of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
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Pino O, Di Pietro S, Poli D. Effect of Musical Stimulation on Placental Programming and Neurodevelopment Outcome of Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2718. [PMID: 36768104 PMCID: PMC9915377 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fetal environment is modulated by the placenta, which integrates and transduces information from the maternal environment to the fetal developmental program and adapts rapidly to changes through epigenetic mechanisms that respond to internal (hereditary) and external (environmental and social) signals. Consequently, the fetus corrects the trajectory of own development. During the last trimester of gestation, plasticity shapes the fetal brain, and prematurity can alter the typical developmental trajectories. In this period, prevention through activity-inducing (e.g., music stimulation) interventions are currently tested. The purpose of this review is to describe the potentialities of music exposure on fetus, and on preterm newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit evaluating its influence on neurobehavioral development. METHODS Databases were searched from 2010 to 2022 for studies investigating mechanisms of placental epigenetic regulation and effects of music exposure on the fetus and pre-term neonates. RESULTS In this case, 28 selected papers were distributed into three research lines: studies on placental epigenetic regulation (13 papers), experimental studies of music stimulation on fetus or newborns (6 papers), and clinical studies on premature babies (9 papers). Placental epigenetic changes of the genes involved in the cortisol and serotonin response resulted associated with different neurobehavioral phenotypes in newborns. Prenatal music stimulation had positive effects on fetus, newborn, and pregnant mother while post-natal exposure affected the neurodevelopment of the preterm infants and parental interaction. CONCLUSIONS The results testify the relevance of environmental stimuli for brain development during the pre- and perinatal periods and the beneficial effects of musical stimulation that can handle the fetal programming and the main neurobehavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olimpia Pino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Sofia Di Pietro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Diana Poli
- INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
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6
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Cortisol reactivity and negative affect among preterm infants at 12 months during a mother-infant interaction task. Infant Behav Dev 2023; 70:101784. [PMID: 36401957 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2022.101784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate correlates of preterm (PT) infant's cortisol reactivity and the association to infant negative affect, during a mother-infant interaction procedure. Participants included 48 infants born prematurely (gestational age < 37 weeks) and their mothers, assessed when infants were 12 months old corrected for prematurity. The examined variables comprised both neonatal and environmental dimensions including maternal interactive behavior. Infant negative affect and maternal interactive behavior were assessed with a standardized mother-infant interaction task. A baseline infant saliva sample was collected before the interaction began, and a second sample after the interaction episodes ended. Results revealed that decrease of infant's cortisol concentration was significantly associated with the exposure to more sensitive, and less intrusive maternal behaviors. However, once controlled for neonatal risk, family SES and maternal psychological distress, the associations were rendered non-significant. Although the association between cortisol reactivity and negative affect trended toward significance, maternal intrusiveness was the only significant predictor of observed infant negative affect. Findings suggest the importance of primary relational experiences on PT infants' early regulatory competencies.
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7
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Mlili NE, Ahabrach H, Cauli O. Hair Cortisol Concentration as a Biomarker of Symptoms of Depression in the Perinatal Period. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2023; 22:71-83. [PMID: 35297354 DOI: 10.2174/1871527321666220316122605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a sensitive period when women experience major hormonal and psychological changes. A high prevalence of the symptoms of depression and manifested major depression rates have been reported during this period, leading to negative outcomes both for mothers and the offspring. Despite its prevalence, the aetiology of depression is not yet fully understood. Nonetheless, alterations in cortisol levels have been proposed as a reliable biomarker to identify pregnant women at risk of perinatal depression. Hair cortisol has recently been extensively used in bio-psychological studies as a suitable non-invasive biomarker for several neuropsychiatric disorders. Various studies have published evidence regarding the relationship between cortisol fluctuations during the perinatal period, measured both in hair and in other substrates, and the onset of perinatal symptoms of depression. This current review provides an overview of cortisol level changes measured in women's hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period and its association with perinatal symptoms of depression. Further studies, including repetitive measurement of both hair cortisol and depression throughout the prenatal period, must be performed to clarify the relationship between cortisol levels and perinatal symptoms of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisrin El Mlili
- Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et Techniques de Santé (ISPITS), Tetouan, Morocco
- Department of Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Hanan Ahabrach
- Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et Techniques de Santé (ISPITS), Tetouan, Morocco
- Department of Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Group (FROG), University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
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8
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Khoury JE, Giles L, Kaur H, Johnson D, Gonzalez A, Atkinson L. Associations between psychological distress and hair cortisol during pregnancy and the early postpartum: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 147:105969. [PMID: 36335755 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy and the early postpartum signify a period of high stress. Perinatal stress can include psychological distress (PD), such as anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as neuroendocrine stress, indexed by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the production of the hormone cortisol. Elevated PD and cortisol levels during the perinatal period can have long-term implications for the mother and child. Methodological advances have enabled the sampling of cortisol from hair, to provide a retrospective marker of HPA axis activity over several months. Despite knowing that maternal PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period independently impact health and development, research to date is unclear as to the association between maternal PD and hair cortisol. The present meta-analysis included 29 studies to assess the strength of the relation between maternal PD and hair cortisol levels during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Several sample and methodological factors were assessed as moderators of this effect. Analyses were conducted using multilevel meta-analysis. Results of the multilevel meta-analysis indicated that the overall effect size between PD and HCC was small but not significant z = 0.039, 95% CI [- 0.001, 0.079]. Moderator analyses indicated that the strength of the association between PD and hair cortisol was moderated by pregnancy status (i.e., effects were stronger in pregnant compared to postpartum samples), timing of HCC and PD measurements (i.e., effects were larger when PD was measured before HCC) and geographic location (i.e., effects were larger in North American studies). The findings advance our understanding of the link between PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period, a time of critical impact to child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Khoury
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Canada.
| | - Lauren Giles
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Hargun Kaur
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Dylan Johnson
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada; Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Leslie Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON Canada
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9
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Roth M, Kluczniok D, Roepke S, Heim C, Herpertz SC, Hindi Attar C, Dittrich K, Boedeker K, Winter SM, Ridder NS, Poppinga SK, Bermpohl F. Relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder, Emotional Availability, and Cortisol Output in Mother-Child Dyads. Psychopathology 2023; 56:90-101. [PMID: 35073545 DOI: 10.1159/000521519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mothers with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often show altered emotional availability toward their own child and heightened stress vulnerability. The aims of the present study were (1) to examine total cortisol output in saliva during mother-child interaction in mothers with BPD and their children and (2) to test whether maternal nonhostility as a subscale of emotional availability mediates the relationship between maternal BPD and child total cortisol output. METHODS We investigated 16 mothers with BPD and 30 healthy control mothers (HC) and 29 children of mothers with BPD and 33 children of HC mothers. Children were between 5 and 12 years old. Salivary cortisol was collected prior to and twice after an episode of a 21-min standardized play situation between mother and child. Nonhostility was rated using the emotional availability scales. Analyses of covariance were computed to test for group differences in total cortisol output (measured with area under the curve with respect to ground). Pearson's correlation was calculated to test the association between maternal and child total cortisol output. To test the second question, a mediation analysis according to Preacher and Hayes was conducted. RESULTS Mothers with BPD and their children had lower total cortisol output. Maternal and child total cortisol output was significantly correlated. Contrary to our hypothesis, maternal nonhostility did not mediate the relationship between BPD and child total cortisol output. CONCLUSION Results imply that the hormonal stress activity of mothers with BPD and their children is altered, which may reflect modified stress regulation and stress vulnerability in mother and child and may impact on mother-child interaction. The finding of a positive association between mother's and child total cortisol output could indicate an intergenerational transmission of these alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Roth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dorothea Kluczniok
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Roepke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Heim
- Department of Medical Psychology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine C Herpertz
- Department for General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Catherine Hindi Attar
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja Dittrich
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja Boedeker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sibylle M Winter
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Neele S Ridder
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sina K Poppinga
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Bermpohl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
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10
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Thomas SR, Woods KE, Mazursky-Horowitz H, Novick DR, Dougherty LR, Glasper ER, Chronis-Tuscano A. Cortisol Reactivity and Observed Parenting among Mothers of Children with and without ADHD. J Atten Disord 2022; 26:1605-1621. [PMID: 35416075 DOI: 10.1177/10870547221089025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurobiological models suggest links between maternal cortisol reactivity and parenting; however, no studies have examined cortisol reactivity and parenting in mothers of school-age children with ADHD. METHOD We examined the relationship between observed parenting and maternal cortisol reactivity in two laboratory contexts: the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST) and parenting-child interaction (PCI). Mothers of children with (N = 24) and without (N = 36) ADHD participated. RESULTS During the TSST, greater cortisol output and increase were associated with decreased positive and increased negative parenting. However, during the PCI, cortisol output was associated with increased self-reported and observed positive parenting, and decreased observed negative parenting. Cortisol change during the PCI was associated with decreased observed positive parenting and increased self-reported negative parenting. Among mothers of children with ADHD, cortisol output during the PCI was negatively associated with negative, inconsistent parenting. Change in cortisol predicted more inconsistent discipline and corporal punishment. CONCLUSION Findings contribute to an integrative biological, psychological, and cognitive process model of parenting in families of children with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon R Thomas
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,The Ross Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kelsey E Woods
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Waypoint Wellness Center, Annapolis, MD, USA
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11
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Bonfig J, Herpertz SC, Schneider I. Altered hormonal patterns in borderline personality disorder mother-child interactions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 143:105822. [PMID: 35709662 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone are involved in the processing of reward and stress and greatly influence mother-child interactions. Altered hormonal systems have been associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD), a disorder characterized by interpersonal deficits. Mothers with BPD tend to perceive interactions with the child as less rewarding and more stressful and interactions are often less reciprocal and have more negative states (i.e. constricted, tense, uncoordinated behaviors). Their children are at elevated risk for psychopathologies. Here, we studied underlying hormonal mechanisms of disrupted mother-child interaction in BPD. METHODS Twenty-five mothers with BPD and 29 healthy mothers with their 18- to 36-month-old toddlers participated in a free-play mother-child interaction, which was evaluated with the Coding Interactive Behavior (CIB) Manual. Maternal blood samples were analyzed at baseline for oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone, and after interaction for oxytocin and cortisol. RESULTS Oxytocin decreased and cortisol remained unchanged in mothers with BPD while healthy mothers showed stable oxytocin and decreased cortisol after interaction. Testosterone basal levels were significantly higher in mothers with BPD. Cortisol reactivity and testosterone levels mediated the association between maternal BPD and dyadic negative states during interaction. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that alterations in oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone contribute to disruptions in mother-child interaction in BPD. Interacting with their child might not result in reward and relief of stress in mothers with BPD in the same way as in healthy mothers. Further research is needed to understand more about dyadic bio-behavioral processes in order to provide targeted parenting support. This could break the cycle of transgenerational transmission and improve maternal and child well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bonfig
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Voßstr. 4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine C Herpertz
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Voßstr. 4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Isabella Schneider
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Voßstr. 4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
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12
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Beijers R, Breugelmans S, Brett B, Willemsen Y, Bos P, de Weerth C. Cortisol and testosterone concentrations during the prenatal and postpartum period forecast later caregiving quality in mothers and fathers. Horm Behav 2022; 142:105177. [PMID: 35512479 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
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). In mothers, no associations were found with CORT and T during pregnancy, but higher postpartum CORT during a mother-infant interaction was related to higher caregiving quality during toddlerhood. In fathers, the association between T during pregnancy and caregiving quality in toddlerhood was more negative for fathers with low CORT. In contrast to mothers, higher postpartum CORT in fathers was associated with lower caregiving quality in toddlerhood. These findings proved robust after applying the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure to control for false discovery rate. Our findings indicate that CORT and T during the perinatal period can forecast caregiving quality in both mothers and fathers. Moreover, our results provided evidence for the dual-hormone hypothesis, but only in fathers. These findings contribute to our growing understanding on how endocrine measures explain individual differences in caregiving quality in mothers and fathers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands.
| | - Sara Breugelmans
- Department of Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, the Netherlands
| | - Bonnie Brett
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Willemsen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Bos
- Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, the Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands
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13
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Using complexity science to understand the role of co-sleeping (bedsharing) in mother-infant co-regulatory processes. Infant Behav Dev 2022; 67:101723. [PMID: 35594598 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2022.101723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Human infants spend most of their time sleeping, but over the first few years of life their sleep becomes regulated to coincide more closely with adult sleep (Galland et al., 2012; Paavonen et al., 2020). Evidence shows that co-sleeping played a role in the evolution of infant sleep regulation, as it is part of an ancient behavioral complex representing the biopsychosocial microenvironment in which human infants co-evolved with their mothers through millions of years of human history (Ball, 2003; McKenna 1986, 1990). This paper is a conceptual, interdisciplinary, integration of the literature on mother-infant co-sleeping and other mother-infant co-regulatory processes from an evolutionary (biological) perspective, using complexity science. Viewing the mother-infant dyad as a "complex adaptive system" (CAS) shows how the CAS fits assumptions of regulatory processes and reveals the role of the CAS in the ontogeny of mother-infant co-regulation of physiological (thermoregulation, breathing, circadian rhythm coordination, nighttime synchrony, and heart rate variability) and socioemotional (attachment and cortisol activity) development.
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14
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Thompson LA, Liberty R, Corr A. "Does your baby watch TV?": The associations between at-home TV watching and laboratory challenge cortisol are different for young infants and their mothers. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22236. [PMID: 35191526 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This longitudinal study examined associations between at-home TV watching and the biological stress response (cortisol) during a laboratory infant cognitive challenge task in 240 3- and 5-month infants and their mothers. Cortisol levels were lower in mothers of 5-month-old infants whose infants were exposed to TV at home, compared to mothers of infants that were not TV-exposed. Cortisol patterns were different across three laboratory sampling intervals for 3-month-old infants as a function of TV watching, revealing a sharp increase in laboratory cortisol only for infants who were exposed to TV at home. In contrast, there was no effect of TV exposure in 5-month-old infants' cortisol. Infant temperament and demographic measures were included as control variables in regression models to predict maternal and infant cortisol. At 3 months, for the T3 cortisol sampling interval, and at 5 months across all three sampling intervals, maternal cortisol levels were significantly predicted by infant TV exposure after accounting for variance due to these control variables. Our findings show the strong influence of the infant TV-exposure factor in the biological stress response of mothers of young infants, and suggest that infant TV exposure may influence self-regulation in 3-month-old infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Thompson
- Clinical Psychology Program, Fielding Graduate University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.,Psychology Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
| | - Rebecca Liberty
- Clinical Psychology Program, Fielding Graduate University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
| | - Alora Corr
- Clinical Psychology Program, Fielding Graduate University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
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15
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Infant media use: A harm reduction approach. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 64:101610. [PMID: 34298189 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
There are a myriad of potentially harmful developmental outcomes associated with infant digital media use. Studies revealing risk associated with early media use have informed the current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations that discourage most digital media use among children under 18 months of age. Recent research advances, however, suggest potential benefits of technology engagement in this age group. Additionally, surveys of parents reveal that most infants engage with digital media for at least 30 min a day, exceeding the AAP recommendations. In response to these discoveries and cultural trends, some scholars have made compelling cases to adapt the AAP guidelines for infants. A helpful model for developing infant digital media use guidelines for families may be the harm reduction approach. The intent of this review is to suggest adaptations to the AAP guidelines for infant media engagement using a harm reduction framework. This review describes the challenge of restrictive guidelines, briefly summarizes the harm reduction approach, provides a review of risks and benefits associated with infant media use in each developmental domain (physical, cognitive, and socioemotional), summarizes correlates of infant screen media use, and examines intervention strategies for reducing screen time. The paper concludes with examples of possible adaptations to current AAP infant media use recommendations using harm reduction and bioecological frameworks.
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16
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Thompson LA, White B. Social Network and Behavioral Synchrony Influences On Maternal and Infant Cortisol Response. JOURNAL OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 32:574-590. [PMID: 35757570 PMCID: PMC9216205 DOI: 10.1080/10911359.2021.1931618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the contributions of mothers' social network stability and mother-infant behavioral synchrony on cortisol response in infants and their mothers during separation. The quality and stability of mothers' social network system and mother-infant bond have both been shown to affect infant neuroendocrine response. Yet, no studies have directly addressed how these two forms of social relationships might differentially affect infants' and mothers' neuroendocrine responses during separation. First-time mothers (N = 133) and their 3-month-old infants participated in the study. Maternal social network stability, mother-infant behavioral synchrony, and mother and infant cortisol response during an infant challenge task were assessed. Behavioral synchrony accounted for significant variance in infants' cortisol response, and after adjusting for synchrony, mothers' network stability measures did not explain variance in infant cortisol. Social network stability, but not synchrony, accounted for significant variance in mothers' cortisol response. These results demonstrate that, when mothers and infants experience brief separation, the quality of their bond is associated with a lower stress response for infants; but for mothers, it is the longevity of her social relationships outside of the mother-infant relationship context that is associated with her lower stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bryan White
- Psychology Department, New Mexico State University
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17
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A biopsychosocial perspective on maternal parenting in the first two years of infant life. Behav Brain Res 2021; 411:113375. [PMID: 34023309 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Guided by a biopsychosocial perspective of mothering, this study investigated the interplay among biological (maternal cortisol reactivity), psychological (maternal depressive symptoms), and social (infant emotion and regulation) factors in contributing to early changes in maternal parenting. Participants were 1292 low-income, mother-infant pairs, assessed when the infants were 6-months (T1), 15-months (T2), and 24-months old (T3). Maternal parenting was observed at all assessment points. At T1, infant emotion expression and orienting towards mothers were observed, when maternal cortisol reactivity was assessed. Mothers reported their depressive symptoms at T1. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two parenting factors across time points: positive engagement and negative intrusiveness. Second-order latent growth curve models revealed interactions among maternal cortisol reactivity, depressive symptoms, and child negative emotion/orienting at T1 in predicting intercepts and slopes of two parenting factors. T1 maternal cortisol reactivity was associated with a higher positive engagement intercept for infants having high negative emotion at T1, but a lower positive engagement intercept for infants with low negative emotion at T1, under low T1 maternal depressive symptoms. T1 maternal cortisol reactivity was also related to a lower negative intrusiveness intercept for infants showing high orienting at T1. Longitudinally, maternal cortisol reactivity at T1 predicted a faster decline in positive engagement when infants showed high negative emotion at T1, but a slower decline when infants were less negative at T1. This study reveals a bivalent adaptation process in maternal sensitivity and enhances the current understanding of how biopsychosocial factors contribute to maternal parenting in low-income families.
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18
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Berretta E, Guida E, Forni D, Provenzi L. Glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) methylation during the first thousand days: Environmental exposures and developmental outcomes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:493-502. [PMID: 33689802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The first 1000 days from conception are a sensitive period for human development programming. During this period, environmental exposures may result in long-lasting epigenetic imprints that contribute to future developmental trajectories. The present review reports on the effects of adverse and protective environmental conditions occurring during the first 1000 days on glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) regulation in humans. Thirty-four studies were included. Wide variations emerged for biological tissues, number and position of analyzed CpG sites, and age at methylation and outcomes assessment. Increased NR3C1 methylation associated with first 1000 days stress exposures. Maternal caregiving behaviors significantly buffered precocious stress exposures. A less robust pattern of findings emerged for the association of NR3C1 methylation with physical health, neurobehavioral and neuroendocrine outcomes. Although drawing comprehensive conclusions is partially hindered by methodological limitations, the present review underlines the relevance of the first 1000 days from conception as a time window for developmental plasticity. Prospective cohort studies and epigenome-wide approaches may increase our understanding of dynamics epigenetic changes and their consequences for child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Berretta
- Experimental and Behavioral Neurophysiology Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Elena Guida
- 0-3 Center for the At-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Diego Forni
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
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19
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Bader LR, Tan L, Gonzalez R, Saini EK, Bae Y, Provenzi L, Volling BL. Adrenocortical interdependence in father-infant and mother-infant dyads: Attunement or something more? Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:1534-1548. [PMID: 33615462 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Father-infant and mother-infant (one-year-olds) adrenocortical attunement was explored during the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) among 125 father-infant and 141 mother-infant dyads. Cortisol was assessed at baseline (T1), 20 (T2), and 40 minutes (T3) after the first parent-infant separation. Initial correlations indicated significant associations between father-infant and mother-infant cortisol at each time. Cortisol interdependence was further explored using Actor-Partner Interdependence Models. There was no evidence supporting cortisol interdependence based on within-time residual correlations between parent-infant cortisol, once stability and cross-lagged paths were controlled. Infant cortisol at T2 predicted T3 cortisol for fathers and mothers resulting in a series of follow-up exploratory analyses to examine mediating processes which revealed that infant distress during the SSP predicted infant T2 cortisol, which, in turn, predicted infant negativity during the 15-min mother-infant teaching task that followed the SSP. Among father-infant dyads, infant T2 cortisol predicted infant negativity during father-infant interaction, with infants expressing more negativity having less sensitive fathers. Findings provide little support of parent-infant adrenocortical attunement across either father-infant or mother-infant dyads during the SSP, but preliminary evidence indicates infant distress as a potential mediator. Future research may want to focus on affective and behavioral processes that underlie the concept of parent-infant adrenocortical attunement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R Bader
- Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, University of Toulouse Capitole, Toulouse, France
| | - Lin Tan
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Richard Gonzalez
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ekjyot K Saini
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Yeonjee Bae
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Brenda L Volling
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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20
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Khoury JE, Beeney J, Shiff I, Bosquet Enlow M, Lyons-Ruth K. Maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment moderate patterns of mother-infant cortisol regulation under stress. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:1309-1321. [PMID: 33615457 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The relation between maternal and infant cortisol responses has been a subject of intense research over the past decade. Relatedly, it has been hypothesized that maternal history of childhood maltreatment (MCM) impacts stress regulation across generations. The current study employed four statistical approaches to determine how MCM influences the cortisol responses of 150 mothers and their 4-month-old infants during the Still-Face Paradigm. Results indicated that MCM moderated cortisol patterns in several ways. First, lower MCM mothers and infants had strong positive associations between cortisol levels measured at the same time point, whereas higher MCM mothers and infants did not show an association. Second, infants of higher MCM mothers had cortisol levels that were moderately high and remained elevated over the procedure, whereas infants of lower MCM mothers had decreasing cortisol levels over time. Third, higher MCM mothers and infants showed increasingly divergent cortisol levels over time, compared to lower MCM dyads. Finally, patterns of cross-lagged influence of infant cortisol on subsequent maternal cortisol were moderated by MCM, such that lower MCM mothers were influenced by their infants' cortisol levels at earlier time points than higher MCM mothers. These findings highlight MCM as one contributor to processes of stress regulation in the mother-infant dyad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Khoury
- Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Beeney
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Karlen Lyons-Ruth
- Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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21
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Konrad C, Berger-Hanke M, Hassel G, Barr R. Does texting interrupt imitation learning in 19-month-old infants? Infant Behav Dev 2020; 62:101513. [PMID: 33338985 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2020.101513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Observed disruptions to parent-child interactions during parental media use, such as texting, have been termed technoference. For example, when a language learning interaction was disrupted by a phone call, toddlers were less likely to acquire the word. Other studies demonstrated that parents often exhibit a still face while silently reading information on their cell phones. In the present study, the effect of a text interruption on infant imitation learning was examined. Parents demonstrated three target actions to their infants and then infants were given the opportunity to repeat those interactions. The actions were demonstrated four times. Text interruptions occurred before or between demonstrations. Performance of these groups was compared to a baseline control group where the infant did not see a demonstration of the target actions and a no-interruption group where the parents demonstrated the target actions four times without interruption. Parents were randomly assigned to three conditions, interruption-first condition, one-interruption condition, or three-interruptions condition. Infant behavior was measured during the interruptions. Across text interruption groups parents exhibited high levels of still face during the interruptions (77 %). However, infants in all 3 interruption groups performed significantly above the baseline control indicating learning despite the interruptions. Higher reported maternal reliance on the smartphone was related to poorer imitation performance overall. In contrast, when parents reported that they found it easier to multi-task infant imitation rates were higher. These findings indicate that infants can learn under conditions of brief technoference and that individual differences in family media ecology are associated with learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Konrad
- Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Melanie Berger-Hanke
- Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Gina Hassel
- Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rachel Barr
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA
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22
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Cárdenas EF, Kujawa A, Humphreys KL. Neurobiological changes during the peripartum period: implications for health and behavior. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 15:1097-1110. [PMID: 31820795 PMCID: PMC7657461 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy and the transition to parenthood is an important period marked by dramatic neurobiological and psychosocial changes that may have implications for the health of women and offspring. Although human and non-human animal research suggests that the brain undergoes alterations during the peripartum period, these changes are poorly understood. Here, we review existing research, particularly human neuroimaging and psychophysiological research, to examine changes in brain structure and function during the peripartum period and discuss potential implications for the health of women and offspring. First, we discuss the potential causes of these changes across pregnancy, including physiological and psychosocial factors. Next, we discuss the evidence for structural and functional changes in the brain during pregnancy and into the postpartum period, noting the need for research conducted prospectively across human pregnancy. Finally, we propose potential models of individual differences in peripartum neurobiological changes (i.e. hypo-response, typical response, hyper-response) and emphasize the need to consider trajectories of change in addition to pre-existing factors that may predict maternal adjustment to parenthood. We suggest that the consideration of individual differences in neurobiological trajectories across pregnancy may contribute to a better understanding of risk for negative health and behavior outcomes for women and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia F Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 37203, Nashville, USA
| | - Autumn Kujawa
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 37203, Nashville, USA
| | - Kathryn L Humphreys
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 37203, Nashville, USA
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23
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Marteinsdottir I, Sydsjö G, Faresjö Å, Theodorsson E, Josefsson A. Parity-related variation in cortisol concentrations in hair during pregnancy. BJOG 2020; 128:637-644. [PMID: 32985075 PMCID: PMC7894509 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Objective To investigate hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) monthly in pregnant women and to explore the effect of parity. Design Prospective cohort study from gestational week (GW) 26, at childbirth and postpartum. Setting An antenatal care clinic in southeast Sweden. Sample 390 pregnant women. Methods Cortisol was measured using radioimmunoassay in methanol extracts of ground hair samples. Main outcome measures Hair cortisol concentrations. Results Both primi‐ and multiparae exhibited an increase in HCC throughout pregnancy. Primiparae had significantly higher HCC in the latter part of the last trimester compared with multiparae (1 month P = 0.003, 2 months P = 0.038). The use of psychotropic medication in the first trimester correlated to HCC postpartum (P < 0.001). HCC in GW 14–17 was associated with HCC in GW 18–21 (primiparae and multiparae, P < 0.001), GW 22–25 (primiparae P = 0.036, multiparae P = 0.033), and 2 months postpartum (primiparae P = 0.049). HCC in GW 18–21 was associated with GW 22–25 in both primiparae (P < 0.001) and multiparae (P < 0.001) as well as 2 months prior to childbirth among primiparae (<0.037). In general, all estimates of HCC in pregnancy and postpartum showed a significant association between HCC for a specific month and the HCC in the previous month (all P < 0.001), except for the association of HCC among primiparae in GW 22–25 and 3 months prior to childbirth. Conclusions Increased cortisol concentrations in hair were observed during pregnancy, which decreased 3 months prior to childbirth in multiparae. The results indicate a quicker suppression of the hypothalamic CRH (corticotropin‐releasing hormone) production by placenta CRH in multiparous women. Tweetable abstract Multiparae have a quicker suppression of hypothalamic CRH production by placenta CRH during pregnancy compared to primiparae. Multiparae have a quicker suppression of hypothalamic CRH production by placenta CRH during pregnancy compared with primiparae.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Marteinsdottir
- Department of Medicine and Optometry, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - G Sydsjö
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Linköping and Division of Children's and Women's Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Å Faresjö
- Division of Society and Health, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - E Theodorsson
- Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - A Josefsson
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Linköping and Division of Children's and Women's Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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24
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Khoury JE, Bosquet Enlow M, Patwa MC, Lyons-Ruth K. Hair cortisol in pregnancy interacts with maternal depressive symptoms to predict maternal disrupted interaction with her infant at 4 months. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 62:768-782. [PMID: 32037544 PMCID: PMC7415595 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Disrupted maternal interaction in early infancy is associated with maladaptive child outcomes. Thus, identifying early risk factors for disrupted interaction is an important challenge. Research suggests that maternal depressive symptoms and maternal cortisol dysregulation are associated with disrupted maternal interaction, but both factors have rarely been considered together as independent or interactive predictors of disrupted interaction. In a sample of 51 women, hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) and depressive symptoms were assessed during pregnancy, and depressive symptoms were assessed again at 4-month postpartum. Maternal disrupted interaction was assessed during the Still-Face Paradigm at 4 months. Results indicated that HCC and depressive symptoms interacted to predict both maternal withdrawing and inappropriate/intrusive interaction. Withdrawing interaction was associated with high levels of HCC in pregnancy in the context of high depressive symptoms at 4 months; inappropriate/intrusive interaction was associated with high levels of HCC in the context of low depressive symptoms. Thus, high HCC potentiated both forms of disrupted interaction. Results raised questions about the meaning of very low reported depressive symptoms, and underscored the importance of chronic stress physiology and maternal depressed mood as risk factors for distinct forms of maternal disrupted interaction, both of which are deleterious for infant development.
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25
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Leff-Gelman P, Flores-Ramos M, Carrasco AEÁ, Martínez ML, Takashima MFS, Coronel FMC, Labonne BF, Dosal JAZ, Chávez-Peón PB, Morales SG, Camacho-Arroyo I. Cortisol and DHEA-S levels in pregnant women with severe anxiety. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:393. [PMID: 32758184 PMCID: PMC7409431 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02788-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A complex interaction between cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) is crucial in the stress system balance; several studies have reported increased cortisol levels during chronic stress and a weak counter-regulation by DHEA-S. During pregnancy, scarce information about this system is available, although cortisol and DHEA-S play an important role in the initiation and acceleration of labor. We conducted the present study in order to determine both cortisol and DHEA-S levels during the last trimester of pregnancy in patients exhibiting severe anxiety. METHODS Pregnant women during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy were evaluated by using the self-reported version of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). According to the scores obtained from the psychometric scale, participants were divided into two groups: 1) patients exhibiting a cutoff score > 15 were considered with severe anxiety (ANX) (n = 101), and control pregnant subjects (CTRL) (n = 44) with a cutoff score < 5. Morning cortisol, DHEA-S and Cortisol/DHEA-S index were measured in all participants. Comparisons between groups were performed; additionally, correlations between clinical variables, biochemical data and HARS were calculated. RESULTS Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the ANX group (p < 0.001), whereas those of DHEA-S were significantly lower in the same group (p < 0.01) when compared to healthy pregnant subjects. An increased cortisol/DHEA-S index was observed in the ANX group (p < 0.05). A significant association between cortisol and HARS scores (p = 0.03), was observed even after adjusting by gestational weeks (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Our data support that the cortisol/DHEA-S index is higher in pregnant women with high anxiety levels as compared with healthy pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mónica Flores-Ramos
- grid.419154.c0000 0004 1776 9908Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, 14370 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico ,grid.418270.80000 0004 0428 7635Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología/CONACyT, 03940 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Margarita López Martínez
- grid.419218.70000 0004 1773 5302Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, 11000 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Fausto Manuel Cruz Coronel
- grid.414716.10000 0001 2221 3638Hospital General de México, Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, 06720 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Blanca Farfán Labonne
- grid.419218.70000 0004 1773 5302Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, 11000 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Saul Garza Morales
- grid.419218.70000 0004 1773 5302Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, 11000 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
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Holochwost SJ, Towe-Goodman N, Rehder PD, Wang G, Mills-Koonce WR. Poverty, Caregiving, and HPA-Axis Activity in Early Childhood. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2020; 56:100898. [PMID: 32377027 PMCID: PMC7202478 DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2020.100898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The association between poverty and the activity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in early childhood is well established. Both ecological and transactional theories suggest that one way in which poverty may influence children's HPA-axis activity is through its effects on parents' behaviors, and over the past three decades a substantial literature has accumulated indicating that variations in these behaviors are associated with individual differences in young children's HPA-axis activity. More recent research suggests that non-parental caregiving behaviors are associated with HPA-axis activity in early childhood as well. Here we systematically review the literature on the association between both parental and non-parental caregiving behaviors in the context of poverty and the activity of the HPA-axis in early childhood. We conclude by noting commonalities across these two literatures and their implications for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Holochwost
- Corresponding author: Science of Learning Institute Johns Hopkins University, 167 Krieger Hall, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, U.S.A. (410) 516-5983.
| | - Nissa Towe-Goodman
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Sheryl-Mar North, Room 111, Campus Box 8040, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8040, U.S.A
| | - Peter D. Rehder
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 319 College Avenue, 248 Stone Building, Greensboro, NC 27412, U.S.A
| | - Guan Wang
- School of Education, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 301K Peabody Hall, CB 3500, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500, U.S.A
| | - W. Roger Mills-Koonce
- School of Education, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 301K Peabody Hall, CB 3500, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500, U.S.A
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Almanza-Sepulveda ML, Fleming AS, Jonas W. Mothering revisited: A role for cortisol? Horm Behav 2020; 121:104679. [PMID: 31927022 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This selective review first describes the involvement of the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and the relation between peripartum HPA axis function and maternal behavior, stress reactivity and emotional dysregulation in human mothers. To provide experimental background to this correlational work, where helpful, animal studies are also described. It then explores the association between HPA axis function in mothers and their infants, under ongoing non-stressful conditions and during stressful challenges, the moderating role of mothers' sensitivity and behavior in the mother-child co-regulation and the effects of more traumatic risk factors on these relations. The overarching theme being explored is that the HPA axis - albeit a system designed to function during periods of high stress and challenge - also functions to promote adaptation to more normative processes, shown in the new mother who experiences both high cortisol and enhanced attraction and attention to and recognition of, their infants and their cues. Hence the same HPA system shows positive relations with behavior at some time points and inverse ones at others. However, the literature is not uniform and results vary widely depending on the number, timing, place, and type of samplings and assessments, and, of course, the population being studied and, in the present context, the state, the stage, and the stress levels of mother and infant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra L Almanza-Sepulveda
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Alison S Fleming
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
| | - Wibke Jonas
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Widerströmska Huset, Tomtebodavägen 18a, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Barry ES. Co-sleeping as a proximal context for infant development: The importance of physical touch. Infant Behav Dev 2019; 57:101385. [DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.101385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Köhler-Dauner F, Roder E, Krause S, Buchheim A, Gündel H, Fegert JM, Ziegenhain U, Waller C. Reduced caregiving quality measured during the strange situation procedure increases child's autonomic nervous system stress response. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2019; 13:41. [PMID: 31695745 PMCID: PMC6824052 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-019-0302-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysfunctional maternal behavior has been shown to lead to disturbances in infant's regulatory capacities and alterations in vagal reactivity. We aim to investigate the autonomic nervous system (ANS) response of the child during the strange situation procedure (SSP) in relation to the quality of maternal behavior. METHODS Twelve month after birth, 163 mother-child-dyads were investigated during the SSP. Heart rate (HR) and both, the parasympathetic branch (PNS) via the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and the sympathetic branch (SNS) via the left ventricular ejection time (LVET) of the ANS were continuously determined during the SSP using electrocardiogram (ECG) and impedance cardiogram (ICG) measures. Maternal behavior was assessed by using the AMBIANCE measure. RESULTS The ANS response in infants of mothers with disruptive behavior compared to infants of non-disruptive mothers was significantly altered during the SSP: HR increased especially when infants of disruptive mothers were alone with the stranger (F (1, 161) = 4.15, p = .04) with a significant vagal withdrawal when being in contact with the stranger despite of presence of the mother (F (1, 161) = 5.11, p = .03) and a significant increase in vagal tone during final reunion (F (1, 161) = 3.76, p = .05). HR increase was mainly based on a decrease in LVET (F (1, 161) = 4.08, p = .05) with a maximum infant's HR when the stranger came into the room instead of the mother. CONCLUSION Both, SNS and PNS branches of the child are significantly altered in terms of an ANS imbalance, especially during contract to a stranger, in relation to dysfunctional maternal behavior. Our findings suggest the importance of supporting high quality caregiving that enables the infant to adapt adequately to stressful interpersonal situations which is likely to promote later health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Köhler-Dauner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm Medical University of Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva Roder
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sabrina Krause
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg M. Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm Medical University of Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegenhain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm Medical University of Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg General Hospital, Nuremberg, Germany
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Kuo PX, Saini EK, Tengelitsch E, Volling BL. Is one secure attachment enough? Infant cortisol reactivity and the security of infant-mother and infant-father attachments at the end of the first year. Attach Hum Dev 2019; 21:426-444. [PMID: 30836833 PMCID: PMC6779037 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2019.1582595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Attachment security is theorized to shape stress reactivity, but extant work has failed to find consistent links between attachment security to mothers and infant cortisol reactivity. We examined family configurations of infant-mother and infant-father attachment security in relation to infant cortisol reactivity. One-year old infants (N = 180) participated in the Strange Situation with mothers and fathers in two counterbalanced lab visits, one month apart (12 and 13 months). Infants with secure attachments only to their fathers and not their mothers had higher cortisol levels than infants with a secure attachment to mother and also exhibited a blunted cortisol response (high at baseline and then a decrease after stress). Results suggest that a secure attachment to father may not be enough to reduce infant stress reactivity when the infant-mother attachment is insecure, and future research is needed to uncover the family dynamics that underlie different family configurations of attachment security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patty X Kuo
- a Department of Psychology & William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame , IN , USA
| | - Ekjyot K Saini
- b Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University , Auburn , AL , USA
| | | | - Brenda L Volling
- d Department of Psychology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
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Braren SH, Perry RE, Ursache A, Blair C. Socioeconomic risk moderates the association between caregiver cortisol levels and infant cortisol reactivity to emotion induction at 24 months. Dev Psychobiol 2019; 61:573-591. [PMID: 30820941 PMCID: PMC6488391 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Relations between maternal baseline cortisol and infant cortisol reactivity to an emotion induction procedure at child ages 7, 15, and 24 months were analyzed using data from the Family Life Project (N = 1,292). The emotion induction consisted of a series of standardized and validated tasks, including an arm restraint, toy removal, and mask presentation, intended to elicit responses of fear and frustration. Results revealed that at 7 and 15 months, maternal baseline cortisol was negatively related to child cortisol reactivity, such that children of mothers with lower cortisol exhibited steeper cortisol increases in response to the emotion induction. At 24 months, the association between mother and infant cortisol was moderated by socioeconomic risk, such that maternal baseline cortisol was associated with child cortisol reactivity only in dyads characterized by low socioeconomic risk. Furthermore, at 24 months, children of mothers with low baseline cortisol and low socioeconomic risk exhibited decreasing cortisol responses, whereas children of mothers with low baseline cortisol but high risk exhibited flat cortisol responses. Children in dyads characterized by high baseline maternal cortisol also exhibited flat cortisol responses regardless of socioeconomic risk. The role of caregiver physiology in the regulation of the child's stress response in the context of adversity is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen H. Braren
- Department of Applied Psychology, 246 Greene Street, Kimball Hall, 8 Floor, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, United States
| | - Rosemarie E. Perry
- Department of Applied Psychology, 246 Greene Street, Kimball Hall, 8 Floor, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, United States
| | - Alexandra Ursache
- Department of Population Health, 227 East 30th Street, 7 Floor, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, United States
| | - Clancy Blair
- Department of Applied Psychology, 246 Greene Street, Kimball Hall, 8 Floor, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, United States
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Ulmer-Yaniv A, Djalovski A, Priel A, Zagoory-Sharon O, Feldman R. Maternal depression alters stress and immune biomarkers in mother and child. Depress Anxiety 2018; 35:1145-1157. [PMID: 30133052 DOI: 10.1002/da.22818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to maternal depression bears long-term negative consequences for children's well-being. Yet, no study has tested the joint contribution of maternal and child's hypothalamic pituitary axis and immune systems in mediating the effects of maternal depression on child psychopathology. METHODS We followed a birth cohort over-represented for maternal depression from birth to 10 years (N = 125). At 10 years, mother and child's cortisol (CT) and secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA), biomarkers of the stress and immune systems, were assayed, mother-child interaction observed, mothers and children underwent psychiatric diagnosis, and children's externalizing and internalizing symptoms reported. RESULTS Depressed mothers had higher CT and s-IgA levels and displayed more negative parenting, characterized by negative affect, intrusion, and criticism. Children of depressed mothers exhibited more Axis-I disorders, higher s-IgA levels, and greater social withdrawal. Structural equation modeling charted four paths by which maternal depression impacted child externalizing and internalizing symptoms: (a) increasing maternal CT, which linked with higher child CT and behavior problems; (b) augmenting maternal and child's immune response, which were associated with child symptoms; (c) enhancing negative parenting that predicted child social withdrawal and symptoms; and (d), via a combined endocrine-immune pathway suppressing symptom formation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings, the first to test stress and immune biomarkers in depressed mothers and their children in relation to social behavior, describe mechanisms of endocrine synchrony in shaping children's stress response and immunity, advocate the need to follow the long-term effects of maternal depression on children's health throughout life, and highlight maternal depression as an important public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Ulmer-Yaniv
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia, Israel.,The Gonda Multidisciplinary Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Amir Djalovski
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia, Israel.,Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
| | - Avital Priel
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
| | - Orna Zagoory-Sharon
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia, Israel
| | - Ruth Feldman
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia, Israel.,Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
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Prenatal and postnatal cortisol and testosterone are related to parental caregiving quality in fathers, but not in mothers. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 97:94-103. [PMID: 30015010 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone and cortisol have both been implicated in human parenting behavior. We investigated the relations between observed quality of caregiving during parent-child interactions and pre- and postnatal testosterone and cortisol levels, in both mothers (N = 88) and fathers (N = 57). Testosterone and cortisol were measured before and after interaction with an infant simulator (prenatal) and with their own child (postnatal) to index basal levels as well as steroid reactivity to the interaction. Our findings are that in fathers, interactions between cortisol and testosterone are related to quality of caregiving both pre- and postnatally. Prenatally there was a stronger negative relation between T and quality of caregiving in fathers with lower cortisol levels, and postnatally there was a stronger negative relation between cortisol and quality of caregiving in fathers high in testosterone levels. Furthermore, prenatal cortisol levels were related to paternal quality of caregiving during interaction with their own child. In mothers, no associations between quality of caregiving and our endocrine measures were observed. We interpret our findings in the context of hyperreactive physiological responses observed in parents at risk for insensitive caregiving, and in light of the dual-hormone hypothesis. The current findings contribute to the growing literature on the endocrine antecedents of human caregiving behavior.
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Riazanova OV, Alexandrovich YS, Ioscovich AM. The relationship between labor pain management, cortisol level and risk of postpartum depression development: a prospective nonrandomized observational monocentric trial. Rom J Anaesth Intensive Care 2018; 25:123-130. [PMID: 30393769 DOI: 10.21454/rjaic.7518.252.rzn] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is the main psychological status disorder and women suffering from postpartum depression often need long-term psychological and socio-economic rehabilitation. The study is dedicated to the evaluation of the role of labor pain management using epidural analgesia in natural delivery on stress level in labor and frequency of postnatal depression. Materials and methods 210 women were investigated and divided into two groups. In the first group for labor pain management in natural delivery, patient-controlled epidural analgesia was used (bolus - 10.0 - 0.08% ropivacaine hydrochloride, lockout - 30 min, limit - 120 ml/6 h) with a background of continuous-flow infusion of local anesthetic 0.08% ropivacaine hydrocluoride solution. Patients in the second group had no pain relief in delivery. The stress level was evaluated using blood plasma cortisol level in the early stages of labor, 6 hours and 3 days after delivery. The assessment of depression development was carried out step-by-step: Before the delivery, 6 hours after, 3 days and 6 weeks after the delivery. Results The baby blues frequency 6 hours after the delivery in the group where the pain relief was conducted was 29.91%, with cortisol level below and equal to 2310.91 nmol/l. In the group with no pain relief 6 hours after delivery, baby blues was found in 15.53% of puerperas (p < 0.05) and the cortisol level was 2673.82 nmol/l (p < 0.05). Six weeks after the birth, postpartum depression was diagnosed in 4.67% of women who received epidural analgesia during delivery, in comparison to 6.79% with no pain relief during delivery. However, the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions The use of epidural analgesia leads to a significant reduction of pain syndrome and stress response during natural delivery, increases the risk of baby blues in the early postnatal period, but slightly influences the frequency of postpartum depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana V Riazanova
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yurii S Alexandrovich
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander M Ioscovich
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Treatment, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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Lang AJ, Gartstein MA. Intergenerational transmission of traumatization: Theoretical framework and implications for prevention. J Trauma Dissociation 2018; 19:162-175. [PMID: 28509617 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2017.1329773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Intergenerational transmission of traumatization (ITT) occurs when traumatized parents have offspring with increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems. Although fetal exposure to the maternal biological milieu is known to be one factor in ITT, PTSD-driven parent-child interactions represent an additional important and potentially modifiable contributor. The Perinatal Interactional Model of ITT presented herein proposes that PTSD leads to social learning and suboptimal parent-child interactions, which undermine child regulatory capacity and increase distress, largely explaining poor social-emotional outcomes for offspring of parents with PTSD. Psychosocial intervention, particularly when delivered early in pregnancy, holds the possibility of disrupting ITT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel J Lang
- a VA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH) , University of California San Diego , San Diego , California , USA
| | - Maria A Gartstein
- b Department of Psychology , Washington State University , Pullman , Washington , USA
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Hibel LC, Mercado E. Marital Conflict Predicts Mother-to-Infant Adrenocortical Transmission. Child Dev 2017; 90:e80-e95. [PMID: 29266194 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Employing an experimental design, mother-to-infant transmission of stress was examined. Mothers (N = 117) were randomized to either have a positive or conflictual discussion with their marital partners, after which infants (age = 6 months) participated in a fear and frustration task. Saliva samples were collected to assess maternal cortisol responses to the discussion and infant cortisol responses to the challenge task. Results indicate maternal cortisol reactivity and recovery to the conflict (but not positive) discussion predicted infant cortisol reactivity to the infant challenge. Mothers' positive affect during the discussion buffered, and intrusion during the free-play potentiated, mother-to-infant adrenocortical transmission. These findings advance our understanding of the social and contextual regulation of adrenocortical activity in early childhood.
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Kalomiris AE, Kiel EJ. Mother-Toddler Cortisol Synchrony Moderates Risk of Early Internalizing Symptoms. INFANCY 2017; 23:232-251. [PMID: 29576751 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol synchrony is the degree to which mother-toddler cortisol levels are mutually regulated within a dyad. Synchrony's impact on toddler development is not well understood, so this study investigated how synchronous cortisol levels (reactivity and total concentration) in mother-toddler dyads moderates the association between risk factors (i.e., maternal worry, toddler inhibition) and early internalizing symptoms. Seventy mothers and their 2-year-old toddlers provided interpretable saliva samples. Behavioral observations were made to assess the toddler's temperament at age 2, and mothers reported on their toddler's internalizing symptoms when toddlers were 2- and 3-years-old. Results suggest that mother-toddler synchrony in total cortisol concentration moderates the relation between risk factors and internalizing symptoms. Specifically, toddler inhibition and maternal worry were less associated with concurrent toddler internalizing symptoms when dyads demonstrated greater cortisol synchrony in total concentration. Further, synchrony in total cortisol levels marginally moderated the association between toddler inhibition and future internalizing symptoms, such that inhibited toddlers were less likely to demonstrate internalizing symptoms at age 3 when dyads demonstrated more cortisol synchrony. This suggests that cortisol synchrony may serve as an advantageous context that reduces the risk of developing of internalizing symptoms and augments the field's understanding of the implications of shared physiological responses within mother-toddler dyads.
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Physiological attunement in mother–infant dyads at clinical high risk: The influence of maternal depression and positive parenting. Dev Psychopathol 2017; 30:623-634. [DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417001158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractA growing number of research studies have examined the intradyadic coregulation (or attunement) of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning in mothers and their children. However, it is unclear how early this coregulation may be present in dyads at clinical high risk and whether certain factors, such as maternal depression or positive parenting, are associated with the strength of this coregulation. The present study examined cortisol attunement within mother–infant dyads in a high-risk sample of 233 mothers who received treatment for psychiatric illness during pregnancy and whose infants were 6 months old at the study visit. Results showed that maternal and infant cortisol covaried across four time points that included a stressor paradigm and a mother–infant interaction task. Greater maternal positive affect, but not depression, predicted stronger cortisol attunement. In addition, infants’ cortisol level following separation from the mother predicted mothers’ cortisol level at the next time point. Mothers’ cortisol level following the separation and the laboratory stress paradigm predicted infants’ cortisol levels at each successive time point, over and above infants’ own cortisol at the previous time point. These findings suggest that maternal and infant cortisol levels influence one another in a bidirectional fashion that may be temporally and context dependent.
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Ketay S, Beck LA. Attachment predicts cortisol response and closeness in dyadic social interaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 80:114-121. [PMID: 28324700 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The present study examined how the interplay of partners' attachment styles influences cortisol response, actual closeness, and desired closeness during friendship initiation. Participants provided salivary cortisol samples at four timepoints throughout either a high or low closeness task that facilitated high or low levels of self-disclosure with a potential friend (i.e., another same-sex participant). Levels of actual closeness and desired closeness following the task were measured via inclusion of other in the self. Results from multi-level modeling indicated that the interaction of both participants' attachment avoidance predicted cortisol response patterns, with participants showing the highest cortisol response when there was a mismatch between their own and their partners' attachment avoidance. Further, the interaction between both participants' attachment anxiety predicted actual closeness and desired closeness, with participants both feeling and wanting the most closeness with partners when both they and their partners were low in attachment anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ketay
- University of Hartford, East Hall, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
| | - Lindsey A Beck
- Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
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40
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Fearon RMP, Tomlinson M, Kumsta R, Skeen S, Murray L, Cooper PJ, Morgan B. Poverty, early care, and stress reactivity in adolescence: Findings from a prospective, longitudinal study in South Africa. Dev Psychopathol 2017; 29:449-464. [PMID: 28401838 PMCID: PMC5659183 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417000104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A considerable body of evidence suggests that early caregiving may affect the short-term functioning and longer term development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Despite this, most research to date has been cross-sectional in nature or restricted to relatively short-term longitudinal follow-ups. More important, there is a paucity of research on the role of caregiving in low- and middle-income countries, where the protective effects of high-quality care in buffering the child's developing stress regulation systems may be crucial. In this paper, we report findings from a longitudinal study (N = 232) conducted in an impoverished periurban settlement in Cape Town, South Africa. We measured caregiving sensitivity and security of attachment in infancy and followed children up at age 13 years, when we conducted assessments of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis reactivity, as indexed by salivary cortisol during the Trier Social Stress Test. The findings indicated that insecure attachment was predictive of reduced cortisol responses to social stress, particularly in boys, and that attachment status moderated the impact of contextual adversity on stress responses: secure children in highly adverse circumstances did not show the blunted cortisol response shown by their insecure counterparts. Some evidence was found that sensitivity of care in infancy was also associated with cortisol reactivity, but in this case, insensitivity was associated with heightened cortisol reactivity, and only for girls. The discussion focuses on the potentially important role of caregiving in the long-term calibration of the stress system and the need to better understand the social and biological mechanisms shaping the stress response across development in low- and middle-income countries.
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Bernard NK, Kashy DA, Levendosky AA, Bogat GA, Lonstein JS. Do different data analytic approaches generate discrepant findings when measuring mother-infant HPA axis attunement? Dev Psychobiol 2016; 59:174-184. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola K. Bernard
- Department of Psychology; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
| | - Deborah A. Kashy
- Department of Psychology; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
| | | | - G. Anne Bogat
- Department of Psychology; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
| | - Joseph S. Lonstein
- Department of Psychology; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
- Neuroscience Program; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
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COMT val158met polymorphism is associated with behavioral response and physiologic reactivity to socio-emotional stress in 4-month-old infants. Infant Behav Dev 2016; 45:71-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Acute stress and working memory: The role of sex and cognitive stress appraisal. Physiol Behav 2016; 164:336-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Finegood ED, Blair C, Granger DA, Hibel LC, Mills-Koonce R. Psychobiological influences on maternal sensitivity in the context of adversity. Dev Psychol 2016; 52:1073-87. [PMID: 27337514 PMCID: PMC4934602 DOI: 10.1037/dev0000123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated prospective longitudinal relations among an index of poverty-related cumulative risk, maternal salivary cortisol, child negative affect, and maternal sensitivity across the first 2 postpartum years. Participants included 1,180 biological mothers residing in rural and predominantly low-income communities in the United States. Multilevel growth curve analyses indicated that an index of cumulative risk was positively associated with maternal cortisol across the postpartum (study visits occurring at approximately 7, 15, and 24 months postpartum) over and above effects for African American ethnicity, time of day of saliva collection, age, parity status, having given birth to another child, contraceptive use, tobacco smoking, body mass index, and breastfeeding. Consistent with a psychobiological theory of mothering, maternal salivary cortisol was negatively associated with maternal sensitivity observed during parent-child interactions across the first 2 postpartum years over and above effects for poverty-related cumulative risk, child negative affect, as well as a large number of covariates associated with cortisol and maternal sensitivity. Child negative affect expressed during parent-child interactions was negatively associated with observed maternal sensitivity at late (24 months) but not early time points of observation (7 months) and cumulative risk was negatively associated with maternal sensitivity across the postpartum and this effect strengthened over time. Results advance our understanding of the dynamic, transactional, and psychobiological influences on parental caregiving behaviors across the first 2 postpartum years. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clancy Blair
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, Arizona State University
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Leah C. Hibel
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis
| | - Roger Mills-Koonce
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina Greensboro
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Seth S, Lewis AJ, Galbally M. Perinatal maternal depression and cortisol function in pregnancy and the postpartum period: a systematic literature review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2016; 16:124. [PMID: 27245670 PMCID: PMC4886446 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-016-0915-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perinatal depression has a significant impact on both mother and child. However, the influence of hormonal changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period remains unclear. This article provides a systematic review of studies examining the effects of maternal cortisol function on perinatal depression. METHOD A systematic search was conducted of six electronic databases for published research on the relationship between cortisol and perinatal depression. The databases included; MEDLINE complete, PsychINFO, SCOPUS, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Science Direct and EBSCO, for the years 1960 to May 2015. Risk of bias was assessed and data extraction verified by two investigators. RESULTS In total, 47 studies met criteria and studies showed considerable variation in terms of methodology including sample size, cortisol assays, cortisol substrates, sampling processes and outcome measures. Those studies identified as higher quality found that the cortisol awakening response is positively associated with momentary mood states but is blunted in cases of major maternal depression. Furthermore, results indicate that hypercortisolemia is linked to transient depressive states while hypocortisolemia is related to chronic postpartum depression. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Future research should aim to improve the accuracy of cortisol measurement over time, obtain multiple cortisol samples in a day and utilise diagnostic measures of depression. Future studies should also consider both antenatal and postnatal depression and the differential impact of atypical versus melancholic depression on cortisol levels, as this can help to further clarify the relationship between perinatal depression and maternal cortisol function across pregnancy and the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunaina Seth
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, 3125, Australia
| | - Andrew J Lewis
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, 6150, Australia. .,Harry Perkins South Medical Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
| | - Megan Galbally
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, 6150, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Perth, Western Australia, 6959, Australia.,Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, 6150, Australia.,Harry Perkins South Medical Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
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Merwin SM, Smith VC, Dougherty LR. “It takes two”: The interaction between parenting and child temperament on parents' stress physiology. Dev Psychobiol 2015; 57:336-48. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Victoria C. Smith
- Department of Psychology; University of Maryland; College Park 20742 MD
| | - Lea R. Dougherty
- Department of Psychology; University of Maryland; College Park 20742 MD
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Mörelius E, Örtenstrand A, Theodorsson E, Frostell A. A randomised trial of continuous skin-to-skin contact after preterm birth and the effects on salivary cortisol, parental stress, depression, and breastfeeding. Early Hum Dev 2015; 91:63-70. [PMID: 25545453 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the effects of almost continuous skin-to-skin contact (SSC) on salivary cortisol, parental stress, parental depression, and breastfeeding. STUDY DESIGN This is a randomised study engaging families of late preterm infants (32-35 weeks gestation). Salivary cortisol reactivity was measured in infants during a nappy change at one month corrected age, and in infants and mothers during still-face at four month corrected age. Both parents completed the Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ) at one month and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at one and four months. Ainsworth's sensitivity scale was used to control for parental sensitivity. SUBJECTS Thirty-seven families from two different neonatal care units in Sweden, randomised to either almost continuous SSC or standard care (SC). RESULTS Infants randomised to SSC had a lower salivary cortisol reactivity at one month (p=0.01). There was a correlation between the mothers' and the preterm infants' salivary cortisol levels at four months in the SSC group (ρ=0.65, p=0.005), but not in the SC group (ρ=0.14, p=0.63). Fathers in SSC scored lower on the SPSQ sub-scale spouse relationship problems compared to fathers in SC (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Almost continuous SSC decreases infants' cortisol reactivity in response to handling, improves the concordance between mothers' and infants' salivary cortisol levels, and decreases fathers' experiences of spouse relationship problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evalotte Mörelius
- Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Division of Health, Activity and Care, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Annika Örtenstrand
- Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Neonatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elvar Theodorsson
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anneli Frostell
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Division of Psychology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Yong MH, Ruffman T. Emotional contagion: Dogs and humans show a similar physiological response to human infant crying. Behav Processes 2014; 108:155-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Montirosso R, Tronick E, Morandi F, Ciceri F, Borgatti R. Four-month-old infants' long-term memory for a stressful social event. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82277. [PMID: 24349244 PMCID: PMC3861393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Infants clearly show an early capacity for memory for inanimate emotionally neutral events. However, their memory for social stress events has received far less attention. The aim of the study was to investigate infants' memory for a stressful social event (i.e., maternal unresponsiveness during the Still-Face paradigm) after a 15-day recall interval using changes in behavioral responses and salivary post-stress cortisol reactivity as measures of memory. Thirty-seven infants were exposed to social stress two times (experimental condition); the first time when they were 4 months of age and second exposure after a 2 week interval. Infants in the control condition (N = 37) were exposed to social stress just one time, at the age corresponding to the second exposure for infants in the experimental condition (4 months plus 2 weeks). Given individual differences in infants' reactivity to social stress events, we categorized infants as increasers or decreasers based on their cortisol reactivity after their initial exposure to the stress of the maternal still-face. Infants in the experimental condition, both increasers and decreasers, showed a significant change in cortisol response after the second exposure to the maternal still-face, though change was different for each reactivity group. In contrast, age-matched infants with no prior exposure to the maternal still-face showed similar post-stress cortisol reactivity to the reactivity of the experimental infants at their first exposure. There were no behavioral differences between increasers and decreasers during the Still-Face paradigm and exposures to the social stress. Thus differences between the experimental and control groups' post-stress cortisol reactivity was associated with the experimental group having previous experience with the social stress. These findings indicate long-term memory for social stress in infants as young as 4 months of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Montirosso
- Centre 0–3 for the Study of Social Emotional Development of the at Risk Infant, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy
| | - Ed Tronick
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Francesca Ciceri
- Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Centre 0–3 for the Study of Social Emotional Development of the at Risk Infant, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy
- Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy
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