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Brandes-Aitken A, Hume A, Braren S, Werchan D, Zhang M, Brito NH. Maternal heart rate variability at 3-months postpartum is associated with maternal mental health and infant neurophysiology. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18766. [PMID: 39138268 PMCID: PMC11322169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68398-4] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated a critical link between maternal mental health and infant development. However, there is limited understanding of the role of autonomic regulation in postpartum maternal mental health and infant outcomes. In the current study, we tested 76 mother-infant dyads from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds when infants were 3-months of age. We recorded simultaneous ECG from dyads while baseline EEG was collected from the infant; ECG heart rate variability (HRV) and EEG theta-beta ratio and alpha asymmetry were calculated. Dyadic physiological synchrony was also analyzed to better understand the role of autonomic co-regulation. Results demonstrated that lower maternal HRV was associated with higher self-reported maternal depression and anxiety. Additionally, mothers with lower HRV had infants with lower HRV. Maternal HRV was also associated with higher infant theta-beta ratios, but not alpha asymmetry. Exploratory analyses suggested that for mother-infant dyads with greater physiological synchrony, higher maternal HRV predicted increased infant theta-beta ratio via infant HRV. These findings support a model in which maternal mental health may influence infant neurophysiology via alterations in autonomic stress regulation and dyadic physiological co-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Brandes-Aitken
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA.
| | - Amy Hume
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Stephen Braren
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Denise Werchan
- New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maggie Zhang
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Natalie H Brito
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
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2
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Davis EP, Glynn LM. Annual Research Review: The power of predictability - patterns of signals in early life shape neurodevelopment and mental health trajectories. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:508-534. [PMID: 38374811 PMCID: PMC11283837 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The global burden of early life adversity (ELA) is profound. The World Health Organization has estimated that ELA accounts for almost 30% of all psychiatric cases. Yet, our ability to identify which individuals exposed to ELA will develop mental illness remains poor and there is a critical need to identify underlying pathways and mechanisms. This review proposes unpredictability as an understudied aspect of ELA that is tractable and presents a conceptual model that includes biologically plausible mechanistic pathways by which unpredictability impacts the developing brain. The model is supported by a synthesis of published and new data illustrating the significant impacts of patterns of signals on child development. We begin with an overview of the existing unpredictability literature, which has focused primarily on longer patterns of unpredictability (e.g. years, months, and days). We then describe our work testing the impact of patterns of parental signals on a moment-to-moment timescale, providing evidence that patterns of these signals during sensitive windows of development influence neurocircuit formation across species and thus may be an evolutionarily conserved process that shapes the developing brain. Next, attention is drawn to emerging themes which provide a framework for future directions of research including the evaluation of functions, such as effortful control, that may be particularly vulnerable to unpredictability, sensitive periods, sex differences, cross-cultural investigations, addressing causality, and unpredictability as a pathway by which other forms of ELA impact development. Finally, we provide suggestions for prevention and intervention, including the introduction of a screening instrument for the identification of children exposed to unpredictable experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Laura M. Glynn
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, United States
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Parent J, Highlander A, Loiselle R, Yang Y, McKee LG, Forehand R, Jones DJ. Technology-Enhanced BPT for Early-Onset Behavior Disorders: Improved Outcomes for Children With Co-Occurring Internalizing Symptoms. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL FOR THE SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DIVISION 53 2024; 53:246-259. [PMID: 37494309 PMCID: PMC10811290 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2023.2222391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early-onset behavior disorders (BDs) are common and costly. The evidence-base for Behavioral Parent Training (BPT), the standard of care for early intervention for BDs in young children, is well-established; yet, common comorbidities such as internalizing symptoms are common and their impact, not well understood. The goal of the current study was to examine the potential for technology to improve BPT effects on observed parenting and child behavior outcomes for families of children recruited for clinically significant problem behavior who also presented with relatively higher internalizing symptoms. METHOD Families with low incomes (N = 101), who are overrepresented in statistics on early-onset BDs, were randomized to an evidence-based BPT program, Helping the Noncompliant Child (HNC), or Technology-Enhanced HNC (TE-HNC). Children were ages 3 to 8 years (55.4% were boys). Child race included White (64.0%), Black or African American (21.0%), more than one race (14.0%), and Hispanic/Latinx (13.9%). RESULTS Families in both groups evidenced improvement in internalizing symptoms at posttreatment; however, TE-HNC yielded the greatest improvement in positive parenting and child compliance at posttreatment and follow-up for children with the highest internalizing symptoms at baseline. CONCLUSIONS TE-HNC resulted in improved parenting and child behavior outcomes for children with elevated levels of co-occurring internalizing symptoms at baseline relative to standard HNC. We posit that these added benefits may be a function of TE-HNC, creating the opportunity for therapists to personalize the treatment model boosting parent skill use with more complex presentations, although a formal test of mediation will be important in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Parent
- Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI
- Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E. P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI
| | | | - Raelyn Loiselle
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Yexinyu Yang
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
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Badini I, Ahmadzadeh YI, Wechsler DL, Lyngstad TH, Rayner C, Eilertsen EM, Zavos HMS, Ystrom E, McAdams TA. Socioeconomic status and risk for child psychopathology: exploring gene-environment interaction in the presence of gene-environment correlation using extended families in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Birth Cohort Study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:176-187. [PMID: 37571996 PMCID: PMC10859652 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with increased risk for emotional and behavioural problems among children. Evidence from twin studies has shown that family SES moderates genetic and environmental influences on child mental health. However, it is also known that SES is itself under genetic influence and previous gene-environment interaction (G×E) studies have not incorporated the potential genetic overlap between child mental health and family SES into G×E analyses. We applied a novel approach using extended family data to investigate the moderation of aetiological influences on child emotional and behavioural problems by parental socioeconomic status in the presence of modelled gene-environment correlation. METHODS The sample comprised >28,100 children in extended-family units drawn from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Mothers reported children's emotional and behavioural symptoms. Parents' income and educational attainment were obtained through linkage to administrative register data. Bivariate moderation Multiple-Children-of-Twins-and-Siblings (MCoTS) models were used to analyse relationships between offspring outcomes (emotional and behavioural symptom scores) and parental socioeconomic moderators (income rank and educational attainment). RESULTS The aetiology of child emotional symptoms was moderated by maternal and paternal educational attainment. Shared environmental influences on child emotional symptoms were greater at lower levels of parents' education. The aetiology of child behavioural symptoms was moderated by maternal, but not paternal, socioeconomic factors. Genetic factors shared between maternal income and child behavioural symptoms were greater in families with lower levels maternal income. Nonshared environmental influences on child behavioural symptoms were greater in families with higher maternal income and education. CONCLUSIONS Parental socioeconomic indicators moderated familial influences and nonshared environmental influences on child emotional and behavioural outcomes. Maternal SES and child mental health share aetiological overlap such that shared genetic influence was greater at the lower end of the socioeconomic distribution. Our findings collectively highlight the role that family socioeconomic factors play in shaping the origins of child emotional and behavioural problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Badini
- Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yasmin I. Ahmadzadeh
- Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel L. Wechsler
- Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Torkild H. Lyngstad
- Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christopher Rayner
- Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Espen M. Eilertsen
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Helena M. S. Zavos
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom A. McAdams
- Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Miller P, Blatt L, Hunter-Rue D, Barry KR, Jamal-Orozco N, Hanson JL, Votruba-Drzal E. Economic hardship and adolescent behavioral outcomes: Within- and between-family associations. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-18. [PMID: 38179686 PMCID: PMC11224139 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423001451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how youth perceive household economic hardship and how it relates to their behavior is vital given associations between hardship and behavioral development. Yet, most studies ignore youth's own perceptions of economic hardship, instead relying solely on caregiver reports. Moreover, the literature has tended to treat economic hardship as a stable force over time, rather than a volatile one that varies month-to-month. This study addressed extant limitations by collecting monthly measures of economic hardship, specifically caregiver- and youth-reported material deprivation and youth-reported financial stress, and youth internalizing and externalizing problems from 104 youth-caregiver dyads (youth: 14-16 years, 55% female, 37% Black, 43% White) over nine months. We examined month-to-month variability of these constructs and how youth-reports of material deprivation and financial stress predicted their behavior problems, controlling for caregiver-reports of material deprivation. We found that hardship measures varied month-to-month (ICCs = 0.69-0.73), and youth-reported material deprivation positively predicted internalizing when examining both within- and between-individual variability (β = .19-.47). Youth-reported financial stress positively predicted within-individual variation in externalizing (β = .18), while youth reports of material deprivation predicted externalizing when looking between families (β = .41). Caregiver-reported material deprivation was unrelated to youth behavior when accounting for youth perceptions of economic hardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Portia Miller
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lorraine Blatt
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniesha Hunter-Rue
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kelly R. Barry
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nabila Jamal-Orozco
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jamie L. Hanson
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Conway A, Miller AL. Social jetlag longitudinally predicts internalizing and externalizing behavior for adolescent females, but not males. Chronobiol Int 2023; 40:1404-1418. [PMID: 37814409 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2023.2265480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Biological changes contribute to preferences for later bed and wake times during adolescence, yet the social constraints of school start times necessitate early wake times. This often results in social jetlag (i.e. misalignment between preferred sleep timing on weekends and school days). We examined whether social jetlag predicts adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior over time and/or whether associations differ based on sex. We used data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development Study (n = 767) to test whether social jetlag at 6th grade (ages 12-13 years) predicted internalizing and externalizing behavior at age 15 years and whether child sex moderated associations. Controlling for internalizing and externalizing behavior at 6th grade (ages 12-13 years), results were that social jetlag at 6th grade (ages 12-13 years) predicted more internalizing and externalizing behaviors at age 15 for females, but not males. These findings show that social jetlag during early adolescence confers risk for internalizing and externalizing behavior in females at mid-adolescence. Greater attention should be placed on identifying and addressing social jetlag in adolescent females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Conway
- Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Alison L Miller
- Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, Michigan, USA
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Castellano P, Gigli V, Ghezzi V, Ang YS, Schettino M, Pizzagalli DA, Ottaviani C. Momentary gustative-olfactory sensitivity and tonic heart rate variability are independently associated with motivational behavior. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 186:1-9. [PMID: 36738932 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.01.010] [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: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in motivational functioning including impairments in reward learning or reward sensitivity are common in psychiatric disorders characterized by anhedonia. Recently, anhedonic symptoms have been exacerbated by the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the general population. The present study examined the putative associations between loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia) sensitivity, irrespective of COVID-19 infection, and anhedonia, measured by a signal-detection task probing the ability to modify behavior as a function of rewards (Probabilistic Reward Task; PRT). Tonic heart rate variability (HRV) was included in the model, due to its association with both smell and taste sensitivity as well as motivational functioning. The sample included 114 healthy individuals (81 females; mean age 22.2 years), who underwent a laboratory session in which dispositional traits, resting HRV and PRT performance were assessed, followed by a 4-days ecological momentary assessment to obtain daily measures of anosmia and ageusia. Lower levels of tonic HRV and lower momentary levels of smell and taste sensitivity were associated with impaired reward responsiveness and ability to shape future behavioral choices based on prior reinforcement experiences. Overall, the current results provide initial correlational evidence that could be fruitfully used to inform future experimental investigations aimed at elucidating the disruptive worldwide mental health consequences triggered by the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Castellano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Gigli
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Ghezzi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Yuen-Siang Ang
- Department of Social and Cognitive Computing, Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Martino Schettino
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego A Pizzagalli
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
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Sosu EM, Schmidt P. Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility. Front Psychol 2022; 13:758082. [PMID: 35369232 PMCID: PMC8964456 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.758082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Associations between family income and child developmental outcomes are well documented. However, family income is not static but changes over time. Although this volatility represents income shocks that are likely to affect children’s lives, very few studies have so far examined its effect on early cognitive development. This study investigated associations between family income, volatility, and changes in cognitive outcomes in early childhood and examined whether these associations are dependent on a family’s overall income position. Data for the study spanned five waves of the Growing Up in Scotland longitudinal survey (N = 3,621). Findings indicate that income volatility was more prevalent among disadvantaged sociodemographic groups. In addition to average income, short-term volatility was associated with changes in child cognitive outcomes from ages 3 to 5. While upward volatility was associated with gains in expressive vocabulary, downward and fluctuating volatility were associated with declines in child problem-solving abilities. The association between volatility and changes in cognitive outcomes was similar for both children living in poverty and those from medium–high-income households. Our results suggest that policies aiming to cushion all families from negative income shocks, boost family income to ensure stability, and take low-income families out of poverty will have a significant impact on children’s cognitive development. Additionally, a more nuanced conceptualization of income is needed to understand its multidimensional impact on developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward M Sosu
- School of Education, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Schmidt
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Center for International Development and Environmental Research, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Income dynamics and behavior problems in early childhood, middle childhood, and the transition to adolescence. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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