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de Waal N, Lodder P, Nyklíček I, Hulsbosch LP, van den Heuvel MI, van der Gucht K, de Caluwé E, Pop VJM, Boekhorst MGBM. Trait mindfulness during pregnancy and maternal-infant bonding: Longitudinal associations with infant temperament and social-emotional development. Early Hum Dev 2024; 196:106082. [PMID: 39116724 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106082] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Maternal love and caregiving are pillars for optimal child development and may affect infant outcomes from pregnancy onwards. The present study aimed to examine whether maternal trait mindfulness during pregnancy and pre- and postnatal maternal-infant bonding were associated with maternal perceptions of infant temperament and social-emotional development. In total, 408 Dutch women (Mage = 31.33, SD = 3.59) participated in a prospective perinatal cohort study and completed questionnaires on trait mindfulness, prenatal bonding, postnatal bonding, infant temperament, and infant social-emotional development at 20 and 28 weeks of gestation, and 10 weeks, 6 and 12 months postpartum, respectively. Path analyses demonstrated that higher levels of the trait mindfulness facet non-judging (i.e., refraining from judgments about own feelings and thoughts) were associated with more pre- and postnatal maternal bonding and fewer social-emotional problems as perceived by the mother. Adopting an accepting and non-judgmental attitude may promote positive feelings of bonding and benefit the infant in terms of having fewer social-emotional problems in the first year of life. Mindfulness interventions may be offered to pregnant women in order to enhance maternal bonding and improve infant outcomes after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor de Waal
- Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
| | - Paul Lodder
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Ivan Nyklíček
- Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Lianne P Hulsbosch
- Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | | | - Katleen van der Gucht
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Elien de Caluwé
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Victor J M Pop
- Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Myrthe G B M Boekhorst
- Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
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Pezzotti E, Provenzi L, Naboni C, Capelli E, Ghirardello S, Borgatti R, Orcesi S. Masked or not, I smile to you: Exploring full-term and preterm infants' social smiles to adults wearing a protective facemask. Infant Behav Dev 2024; 75:101947. [PMID: 38593528 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2024.101947] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The early emergence of social smiles is an important milestone of infants' socio-emotional development. Our aim was to assess how the use of protective facemasks by adults affects the display of social smiles in preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) infants at 3 months (corrected age for prematurity). We enrolled 30 FT and 30 PT infants (gestational age ≤ 32 weeks). Infants' social smiles displays were assessed at 2-3-month-age (corrected) across a three-episode (masked mother; unmasked mother; masked adult female stranger) videotaped interactive task. During each episode, the adult was instructed to maintain specific facial expressions (happy-smiling, sad-frowning, neutral-unresponsive) for 15 second windows and then instructed to interact spontaneously for 45 s (of which the first 15 s were coded). FT and PT infants did not differ in the display of social smiles. In both groups, social smiles were mostly exhibited in response to happy/smiling and spontaneously interacting partners. Overall, no effect of wearing a protective facemask emerged. The use of protective facemasks did not result in a lower display of social smiles. The findings suggest that FT and PT might be equally sensitive to their adult interactive partners in terms of social smiles displays at 2-3-month-age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Pezzotti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Developmental Psychobiology Lab, Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cecilia Naboni
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Early Neurodevelopment and Parenting Support, Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Capelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Stefano Ghirardello
- Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simona Orcesi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Early Neurodevelopment and Parenting Support, Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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3
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Grumi S, Capelli E, Morelli F, Vercellino L, Mascherpa E, Ghiberti C, Carraro L, Signorini S, Provenzi L. Gaze Orienting in the Social World: An Exploration of the Role Played by Caregiving Vocal and Tactile Behaviors in Infants with Visual Impairment and in Sighted Controls. Brain Sci 2024; 14:474. [PMID: 38790453 PMCID: PMC11120189 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050474] [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] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Infant attention is a cognitive function that underlines sensory-motor integration processes at the interface between the baby and the surrounding physical and socio-relational environment, mainly with the caregivers. The investigation of the role of non-visual inputs (i.e., vocal and tactile) provided by the caregivers in shaping infants' attention in the context of visual impairment is relevant from both a theoretical and clinical point of view. This study investigated the social attention (i.e., gaze orientation) skills in a group of visually impaired (VI) and age-matched sighted controls (SCs) between 9 and 12 months of age. Moreover, the role of VI severity and maternal vocalizations and touch in shaping the social attention were investigated. Overall, 45 infants and their mothers participated in a video-recorded 4 min interaction procedure, including a play and a still-face episode. The infants' gaze orientation (i.e., mother-directed, object-directed, or unfocused) and the types of maternal vocalizations and touch (i.e., socio-cognitive, affective) were micro-analytically coded. Maternal vocalizations and touch were found to influence gaze orientation differently in VI infants compared SCs. Moreover, the group comparisons during the play episode showed that controls were predominantly oriented to the mothers, while VI infants were less socially oriented. Visual impairment severity did not emerge as linked with social attention. These findings contribute to our understanding of socio-cognitive developmental trajectories in VI infants and highlight the need for tailored interventions to promote optimal outcomes for VI populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Grumi
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.G.); (L.V.)
| | - Elena Capelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.C.); (C.G.); (L.C.)
| | - Federica Morelli
- Developmental Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Luisa Vercellino
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.G.); (L.V.)
| | - Eleonora Mascherpa
- Developmental Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Chiara Ghiberti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.C.); (C.G.); (L.C.)
- Developmental Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Laura Carraro
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.C.); (C.G.); (L.C.)
- Developmental Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Sabrina Signorini
- Developmental Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.G.); (L.V.)
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.C.); (C.G.); (L.C.)
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Worrall S, Christiansen P, Khalil A, Silverio SA, Fallon V. Associations between prematurity, postpartum anxiety, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and stress. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1323773. [PMID: 38463430 PMCID: PMC10921229 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1323773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction It is well established that a premature birth increases the likelihood of developing anxiety during the postpartum period, and that the environment of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) might be a contributing factor. Mothers of earlier premature infants may experience these anxieties to a higher degree compared to mothers of later premature infants. The aim of this study was to explore the association between prematurity and postpartum-specific anxiety, and the relationship between postpartum-specific anxiety and stress in the NICU. Materials and methods Mothers (N = 237) of infants aged between birth and 12 months completed an online survey containing the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale - Research Short Form (PSAS-RSF) and the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationship between gestational age and postpartum-specific anxiety, with one-way ANOVAs used to analyze this relationship with respect to categories of gestational age. Hierarchical regression models analyzed the relationship between postpartum-specific anxiety and stress in the NICU. Results For the PSAS-RSF, Practical Infant Care Anxieties (p = 0.001), Maternal Competence and Attachment Anxieties (p = 0.033), and Infant Safety and Welfare Anxieties (p = 0.020) were significantly associated with week of gestation. Practical Infant Care and Infant Safety and Welfare Anxieties were significantly higher for mothers of late premature infants, compared to mothers of term infants (p < 0.001; p = 0.019). There were no significant between-group differences with respect to Maternal Competence and Attachment Anxieties. After controlling for potential confounders, Infant Safety and Welfare Anxieties were significantly associated with increased stress in the NICU (p < 0.001) as measured by the PSS:NICU. Conclusions Our findings highlight the need for interventions for mothers with premature infants, which specifically target anxieties reflected in the PSAS-RSF, such as routine care and increasing maternal self-efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semra Worrall
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Christiansen
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Asma Khalil
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio A. Silverio
- Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Fallon
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Antunes S, Alves MJ, Martelo I, Beeghly M, Barros L, Fuertes M. Predicting attachment in Portuguese infants born very or extremely preterm: Understanding the roles of infant regulatory behavior, maternal sensitivity, and risk factors. Infant Ment Health J 2024; 45:40-55. [PMID: 38091258 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.22094] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of research shows that early attachment relationships are foundational for children's later developmental and psychosocial outcomes. However, findings are mixed regarding whether preterm birth predicts later attachment, but insecurity is generally more prevalent among infants at higher medical and/or social/familial risk. This longitudinal study aimed to identify specific relational, familial/demographic, and perinatal predictors of attachment in a sample of 63 Portuguese infants born very or extremely preterm (VEPT, <32 gestational weeks) and their mothers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. One-third of the mothers had social/family risk factors (e.g., single parent, immigrant, unemployed, low education, and/or low income). At 3 months (corrected age), dyads were observed during social interaction in the Face-to-Face Still-Face paradigm (FFSF) and during free play. At 12 months, mother-infant dyads were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation. Over half (58.7%) of the infants were classified as insecurely attached. Social-Positive Oriented regulatory behavior pattern, higher maternal sensitivity, higher infant cooperation during free play, number of siblings and an absence of social/family risk factors were associated with attachment security. Perinatal variables were unrelated to attachment. Findings indicate that both relational and social contextual factors contribute to attachment in this biologically vulnerable sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Antunes
- Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria João Alves
- Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa (ESELX_IPL), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Inês Martelo
- Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa (ESELX_IPL), Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Luísa Barros
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marina Fuertes
- Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa (ESELX_IPL), Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro de Psicologia of Porto University & ESELX_IPL, Lisboa, Portugal
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6
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Ahn YA, Ertuğrul IÖ, Chow SM, Cohn JF, Messinger DS. Automated measurement of infant and mother Duchenne facial expressions in the Face-to-Face/Still-Face. INFANCY 2023; 28:910-929. [PMID: 37466002 PMCID: PMC10426229 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Although still-face effects are well-studied, little is known about the degree to which the Face-to-Face/Still-Face (FFSF) is associated with the production of intense affective displays. Duchenne smiling expresses more intense positive affect than non-Duchenne smiling, while Duchenne cry-faces express more intense negative affect than non-Duchenne cry-faces. Forty 4-month-old infants and their mothers completed the FFSF, and key affect-indexing facial Action Units (AUs) were coded by expert Facial Action Coding System coders for the first 30 s of each FFSF episode. Computer vision software, automated facial affect recognition (AFAR), identified AUs for the entire 2-min episodes. Expert coding and AFAR produced similar infant and mother Duchenne and non-Duchenne FFSF effects, highlighting the convergent validity of automated measurement. Substantive AFAR analyses indicated that both infant Duchenne and non-Duchenne smiling declined from the FF to the SF, but only Duchenne smiling increased from the SF to the RE. In similar fashion, the magnitude of mother Duchenne smiling changes over the FFSF were 2-4 times greater than non-Duchenne smiling changes. Duchenne expressions appear to be a sensitive index of intense infant and mother affective valence that are accessible to automated measurement and may be a target for future FFSF research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeojin Amy Ahn
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral
Gables, Florida, USA
| | - Itir Önal Ertuğrul
- Department of Information and Computing Sciences, Utrecht
University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sy-Miin Chow
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies,
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jeffrey F. Cohn
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel S. Messinger
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral
Gables, Florida, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Music Engineering, University
of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
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7
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Stability of maternal postnatal bonding between 3 and 6 months: Associations with maternal mental health and infant temperament. Infant Behav Dev 2023. [PMID: 36863245 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2023.101826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Maternal bonding is key for infant development and well-being. Research to date focused on prenatal bonding experience, with fewer studies looking at the postnatal period. Moreover, evidence suggests significant associations among maternal bonding, maternal mental health, and infant temperament. The joint impact of maternal mental health and infant temperament on maternal postnatal bonding remains unclear, with limited research reporting longitudinal data. Hence, the present study aims (1) to explore the impact of maternal mental health and infant temperament on postnatal bonding at both 3 and 6 months of age, (2) to explore postnatal bonding stability from 3 to 6 months, and (3) to determine which factors are linked with 3-to-6-month changes in bonding. At the infants' 3 months (n = 261) and 6 months of age (n = 217), mothers provided measures of bonding, depressive and anxious symptoms, and infant temperament via validated questionnaires. At 3 months, higher levels of maternal bonding were predicted by lower levels of anxiety and depression in the mothers and by higher infants' regulation scores. At 6 months, lower levels of anxiety and depression predicted higher levels of bonding. Moreover, mothers showing decreases in bonding were characterized by 3-to-6-month increases in depression and anxiety, as well as increased reported difficulties in regulation dimensions of infant temperament. This study highlights the impact of both maternal mental health and infant temperament on maternal postnatal bonding in a longitudinal sample and could offer useful information for early childhood prevention and care.
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8
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Prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and infant regulatory capacity at 3 months: A longitudinal study. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:35-43. [PMID: 34210369 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global traumatic experience for citizens, especially during sensitive time windows of heightened plasticity such as pregnancy and neonatal life. Pandemic-related stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy may act as an early risk factor for infants' regulatory capacity development by altering maternal psychosocial well-being (e.g., increased anxiety, reduced social support) and caregiving environment (e.g., greater parenting stress, impaired mother-infant bonding). The aim of the present longitudinal study was to assess the consequences of pandemic-related prenatal stress on infants' regulatory capacity. A sample of 163 mother-infant dyads was enrolled at eight maternity units in northern Italy. They provided complete data about prenatal stress, perceived social support, postnatal anxiety symptoms, parenting stress, mother-infant bonding, and infants' regulatory capacity at 3 months of age. Women who experienced emotional stress and received partial social support during pregnancy reported higher anxious symptoms. Moreover, maternal postnatal anxiety was indirectly linked to the infants' regulatory capacity at 3 months, mediated by parenting stress and mother-infant bonding. Dedicated preventive interventions should be delivered to mothers and should be focused on protecting the mother-infant dyad from the detrimental effects of pandemic-related stress during the COVID-19 healthcare emergency.
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9
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Fuertes M, Antunes S, Martelo I, Dionisio F. The impact of low birthweight in infant patterns of regulatory behavior, mother-infant quality of interaction, and attachment. Early Hum Dev 2022; 172:105633. [PMID: 35908407 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
It remains unclear whether infants born preterm are more likely to develop an insecure attachment with their mothers. In this study, instead of using gestational age criteria, we observe attachment in infants born with very low birthweight. Although the collinearity between gestational age and birthweight is high, infants born with very low birthweight for their gestational age tend to stay more days in NICU and to have more comorbidities than other infants with the same gestational age. Thus, we wonder about the impact of low gestational birth (per se) in infants' regulatory behavior, the quality of mother-infant interactions, and attachment security. The participants are 71 infants' weight lower than 1599 g of gestational weight (varying between 23 and 34 weeks of gestational) and their mothers. Dyads were observed in free play and during Face to Face Still-Face paradigm with infants at 3 months of corrected age. At 12 months of corrected age, mother-infant attachment was observed during Strange Situation. Results indicate that infants with low/very low gestational birthweight have high levels of insecure attachment (70 %) and non-positive patterns of regulatory behavior (64 %). Maternal and infant interactive behavior is highly associated with infant attachment. In turn, maternal interactive behavior is associated with gestational age, birthweight, and number of days in NICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Fuertes
- Centro de Psicologia of Porto University & ESELX_IPL, Portugal.
| | - Sandra Antunes
- Faculdade de Psicologia of University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Inês Martelo
- Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa (ESELX_IPL), Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Francisco Dionisio
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
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10
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Ginnell L, O'Carroll S, Ledsham V, Jiménez Sánchez L, Stoye DQ, Sullivan G, Hall J, Homer NZM, Boardman JP, Fletcher-Watson S, Reynolds RM. Emotion regulation and cortisol response to the still-face procedure in preterm and full-term infants. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 141:105760. [PMID: 35447496 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In infancy, stress responses and emotion regulation are often coupled. Both are impacted by prematurity, though their relationship to one another in the case of infants born preterm is not fully understood. We investigated emotion regulation behaviours, cortisol reactivity and recovery and coupling between emotion regulation and cortisol reactivity to and recovery from a stressor in preterm infants. 53 preterm and 67 full-term infants with mean (range) gestational age at birth 29+3 (24+0-31+6) and 39+3 (36+2-42+0) weeks respectively were exposed to a socio-emotional stressor, the still-face (SF) paradigm, at 9 months of age (corrected for prematurity). The duration of negative affect and self-comforting behaviours exhibited in response to the SF, coded from a 10-minute video-taped interaction, were compared between groups. Saliva was collected from a subset (20 preterm, 24 term infants) at three timepoints: pre-SF and 20- and 30-minutes post SF. Cortisol concentrations at each timepoint were compared between groups. Associations between behavioural measures and cortisol concentrations were explored. There was no significant difference in duration of self-comforting behaviour between preterm and term infants. Preterm infants spent a significantly smaller proportion of time in a negative affective state compared to term infants (0.18 vs 0.25 s, p = 0.03). Salivary cortisol concentration was significantly higher in the preterm compared to the term group 30 min post SF (2.85 vs 1.77 nmol/L, p = 0.009), though findings were no longer significant after adjusting for time of day of sampling and socioeconomic deprivation. After controlling for time of day, greater negative affect was correlated with higher cortisol concentration 30 min post SF in the full-term (r = 0.58, p = 0.004) but not the preterm group (r = -0.01, p > 0.05). Our findings suggest altered response to an acute stressor in preterm infants, manifesting as a muted emotional response, and a lack of coupling between endocrine and behavioural stress response. Replication studies in larger samples would help to further understand biological stress repose in preterm infants and its relationship to behaviour, time of day and deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Ginnell
- The University of Edinburgh, Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre. Kennedy Tower, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK.
| | - Sinéad O'Carroll
- The University of Edinburgh, Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre. Kennedy Tower, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK.
| | - Victoria Ledsham
- The University of Edinburgh, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health. The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - Lorena Jiménez Sánchez
- Translational Neuroscience PhD programme, Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre. Kennedy Tower, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK.
| | - David Q Stoye
- The University of Edinburgh, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health. The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - Gemma Sullivan
- The University of Edinburgh, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health. The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - Jill Hall
- The University of Edinburgh, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health. The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - Natalie Z M Homer
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; The University of Edinburgh, BHF/Centre for Cardiovascular Science. The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - James P Boardman
- The University of Edinburgh, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health. The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - Sue Fletcher-Watson
- The University of Edinburgh, Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre. Kennedy Tower, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK.
| | - Rebecca M Reynolds
- The University of Edinburgh, BHF/Centre for Cardiovascular Science. The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
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11
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Erickson SJ, Vaccaro S, Kubinec N, Moss N, Avila-Rieger R, Lowe JR, Tofighi D. Preliminary longitudinal evidence for stability of maternal behavior and infant stress regulation among infants born preterm at 4 and 9 months during the Still Face paradigm. Infant Behav Dev 2022; 68:101745. [PMID: 35760033 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2022.101745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Stress regulation begins to develop in the first year of life through interactions with caregivers, particularly in the presence of stressors. High quality caregiving, characterized by maternal sensitivity and responsiveness to the infant's emotional cues, is particularly important in the development of infant stress regulation. The purpose of this study was to assess the longitudinal stability of, and associations between, maternal interactive behavior and infant stress regulation (indexed by positive infant affect and cortisol reactivity) in response to the Still Face paradigm (SF) in a cohort of infants born preterm (< 32 weeks gestation, N = 22) at four months and nine months (adjusted age). The percent of time mothers spent using specific interaction styles (contingent maternal interaction (CMI), attention seeking, and watching) during Play/baseline, Reunion#1, and Reunion#2 SF episodes was calculated To assess infant stress regulation, two indices were obtained at both 4 and 9 months during the SF paradigm: the percent of positive affect displayed over each SF episode (0-100%) and a neuroendocrine stress response score based on salivary cortisol reactivity. We found three non-significant but medium-large effect size differences between 4 and 9 month variables, with more positive findings at 9 months. Regarding stability within the 4 month and 9 month episodes, maternal behavior and positive infant affect were non-significantly but moderately stable, with maternal watching behavior being particularly stable. Positive infant affect stability between Reunion#1 and Reunion#2 at 4 months was significantly greater than positive infant affect stability across these two episodes at 9 months. Regarding stability across 4 and 9 month (same) episodes, CMI and positive infant affect showed modest but non-significant stability across (same) 4 and 9 month episodes. Finally, with positive infant affect at Reunion#2 as the "outcome" of the Still Face, CMI at both 4 month Play and Reunion#1 episodes were significantly correlated with this "outcome." Further, positive infant affect at Reunion#2 was more strongly correlated with CMI at both Play and Reunion#1 for 4 month old compared with 9 month old infants. Thus, sensitive care appears particularly important for younger infants born preterm, and mothers' behavior early in a repeated stress exposure paradigm may be particularly important in maintaining positive infant affect and in the development of infants' stress regulation more generally. Identifying the longer-term effects of early stress on infant stress regulation, and its relationship with maternal interaction, has important implications for understanding trajectories of regulatory patterns and deficits. A greater understanding of these relationships is particularly important given that greater emotion and neuroendocrine stress regulation in infancy have been directly associated with numerous positive outcomes throughout childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Erickson
- Department of Psychology, Logan Hall 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Suzanne Vaccaro
- Department of Psychology, Logan Hall 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jean R Lowe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Davood Tofighi
- Department of Psychology, Logan Hall 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
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12
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Towards-Person Vocalization Effect on Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Context of Frustration. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11121651. [PMID: 34942953 PMCID: PMC8699391 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11121651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the vocalization characteristics of infants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the context of frustration. The duration and frequency of vocalization in 48 infants with ASD and 65 infants with typical development (TD) were followed up to 24 months later for subsequent diagnosis. The typical vocalizations of infants with ASD were retrospectively analyzed, such as speech-like vocalizations, nonspeech vocalizations, vocalizations towards the person and non-social vocalizations. The results showed that, compared with the TD group, vocalizations of infants with ASD during the still-face period had lower typical vocalizations and characteristics associated with social intention, and that these characteristics were closely related to the clinical symptoms of ASD, among which vocalizations towards the person accompanied by social intention had discriminative efficacy.
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13
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Erickson SJ, Kubinec N, Vaccaro S, Moss N, Avila-Rieger R, Rowland A, Lowe JR. The role of maternal interactive behavior and gestational age in predicting infant affect during the Still-Face Paradigm. Early Hum Dev 2021; 163:105485. [PMID: 34649191 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emotion regulation develops through bidirectional affective communication. AIM To investigate the role of maternal interactive behavior in predicting infant affect among preterm versus full-term infants. STUDY DESIGN The association between maternal interactive behavior (contingent, attention seeking, watching) and infant affect during a modified Still Face (SF) paradigm in a sample of 22 preterm and 28 full term infants (3 ½ - 4 ½ months old) was investigated. METHODS Maternal behavior and infant affect were coded in one second intervals. RESULTS Maternal contingent interaction was positively correlated with positive infant affect (p < 0.001 for Play; p < 0.001 for Reunion#1; p < 0.01 for Reunion#2, respectively), with a stronger association during the second reunion for preterm infants (p < 0.001). In the preterm sample but not in the full-term sample, attention seeking maternal interaction at Play (baseline), Reunion#1, and Reunion#2 were all positively correlated with negative infant affect at Still Face#2. Maternal watching was negatively associated with positive infant affect for the full sample for both Reunion episodes (p < 0.05). Full term infants' negative affect increased from baseline to the first SF episode and then plateaued, whereas preterm infants demonstrated greater negative affect and less recovery throughout. Mothers of full-term infants showed increased contingent responding after the first SF stressor, while mothers of preterm infants did not (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants may be more susceptible to both positive and negative maternal behaviors and mothers of full-term infants may be more responsive to infants' increased distress. Relationship-focused interventions addressing maternal behaviors may enhance positive emotionality and improve self-regulation in medically at-risk infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
| | - Nicole Kubinec
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Suzanne Vaccaro
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Natalia Moss
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Rebecca Avila-Rieger
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Andrew Rowland
- UNM College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Jean R Lowe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
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14
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Grumi S, Cappagli G, Aprile G, Mascherpa E, Gori M, Provenzi L, Signorini S. Togetherness, beyond the eyes: A systematic review on the interaction between visually impaired children and their parents. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 64:101590. [PMID: 34062369 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parent-child interaction is essential to promote adaptive emotional, cognitive, and social development. The majority of previous research on parent-child interaction is largely dependent on face-to-face exchanges that require the interactive partners to visually recognize reciprocal communicative bids. Therefore, previous findings in the field can only partially apply to the early interactive patterns occurring between visually impaired infants and their parents. The present study was aimed to systematically review the available evidence on parent-child interaction in the context of developmental visual impairment. METHODS Fourteen papers were finally selected after literature search on PubMed and Scopus. Data synthesis was focused on three core topics: visually impaired children's contribution to the interaction, parental caregiving behaviors with visually impaired children, and the association between parents' behaviors and the developmental outcomes of children with visual impairment. RESULTS Visually impaired children may exhibit reduced reactivity to maternal stimuli and less-than-optimal levels of interactive initiations in social exchanges. Parents of children with visual impairment may use more descriptive communicative acts and greater directiveness compared to mothers of sighted counterparts. Specific caregiving behaviors (e.g., responsiveness and goal setting) of parents of children with visual impairment may significantly support language and socio-emotional development as well as sensorimotor integration. DISCUSSION Children with visual impairment may be less responsive and they may produce less clear communicative bids while interacting with their parents. Their parents may face specific challenges while engaging with them and they may become increasingly directive and intrusive. Nonetheless, even in the presence of visual impairment, the quality of parental caregiving behaviors appears to play a potential preventive role in the face of children's socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes. These results suggest that early interventions focused on parent-child interactions are especially needed in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Grumi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Cappagli
- Center of Child Neuro-Ophthalmology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giorgia Aprile
- Center of Child Neuro-Ophthalmology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Mascherpa
- Center of Child Neuro-Ophthalmology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Monica Gori
- Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Sabrina Signorini
- Center of Child Neuro-Ophthalmology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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15
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Dean B, Ginnell L, Boardman JP, Fletcher-Watson S. Social cognition following preterm birth: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 124:151-167. [PMID: 33524414 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Social cognitive abilities are affected by preterm birth, but pathways to, and risk factors for this outcome are not well mapped. We examined direct assessment tasks including objective coding of parent-child play to chart social development in infancy and pre-school years. A systematic search and data-extraction procedure yielded seventy-nine studies (4930 preterm and 2109 term children, aged birth - five years), for inclusion. We detected a pattern of reduced social attention in the first 12 months of life with evidence of reduced performance in social cognitive tasks later in the preschool years. However, we did not identify a consistent, distinctive preterm social phenotype in early life. Instead, the interactive behaviour of preterm infants reflects factors from outside the social cognitive domain, such as attention, language, and socioeconomic status. By combining data across samples and measures we revealed the role of domain-general skills, which may in future prove fruitful intervention targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethan Dean
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lorna Ginnell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, UK
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16
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Grumi S, Saracino A, Volling BL, Provenzi L. A systematic review of human paternal oxytocin: Insights into the methodology and what we know so far. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:1330-1344. [PMID: 33694219 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
With the consolidation of fathers' engagement in caregiving, understanding the neuroendocrine and hormonal mechanisms underlying fatherhood becomes a relevant topic. Oxytocin (OT) has been linked with maternal bonding and caregiving, but less is known about the role of OT in human fatherhood and paternal caregiving. A systematic review of methods and findings of previous OT research in human fathers was carried. The literature search on PubMed and Scopus yielded 133 records. Twenty-four studies were included and analyzed. Significant variability emerged in OT methodology, including laboratory tasks, assessment methods, and outcome measures. Fathers' OT levels appear to increase after childbirth. OT was significantly correlated with less hostility and with the quality of paternal physical stimulation in play interactions, but not with paternal sensitivity. Fathers' and children's OT levels were significantly correlated in a limited subset of studies, intriguingly suggesting that cross-generational OT regulation may occur during the early years of life. This study highlights relevant issues and limitations of peripheral OT assessment in human subjects, especially in fathers. Although the study of paternal neuroendocrinology appears promising, coping with these issues requires dedicated efforts and methodological suggestions are provided to guide future advances in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Grumi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Annalisa Saracino
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Brenda L Volling
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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17
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Parents' experiences of emotional closeness to their infants in the neonatal unit: A meta-ethnography. Early Hum Dev 2020; 149:105155. [PMID: 32829240 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical and emotional parent-infant closeness activate important neurobiological mechanisms involved in parenting. In a neonatal care context, most research focuses on physical (parental presence, skin-to-skin contact) aspects; insights into emotional closeness can be masked by findings that overemphasise the barriers or challenges to parenting an infant during neonatal care. AIM To explore existing qualitative research to identify what facilitates and enables parents' experiences of emotional closeness to their infants while cared for in a neonatal unit. STUDY DESIGN A systematic review using meta-ethnographic methods. Search strategy involved searches on six databases, author runs, and backward and forward chaining. Reciprocal translation was used to identify and compare key concepts of parent-infant emotional closeness. RESULTS Searches identified 6992 hits, and 34 studies from 17 countries that involved 670 parents were included. Three overarching themes and associated sub-themes were developed. 'Embodied connections' describes how emotional closeness was facilitated by reciprocal parent-infant interactions, spending time as a family, and methods for parents to feel connected while physically separated. 'Inner knowing' concerns how knowledge about infant and maternal health and understanding the norms of neonatal care facilitated emotional closeness. 'Evolving parental role' relates to how emotional closeness was intertwined with parental identities of contributing to infant health, providing direct care, and being acknowledged as a parent. CONCLUSION Parent-infant closeness evolves and is facilitated by multifaceted biopsychosocial factors. Practice implications include creating private and uninterrupted family time, strategies for parents to maintain an emotional connection to their infant when separated, and neurobiology education for staff.
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18
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Montirosso R, McGlone F. The body comes first. Embodied reparation and the co-creation of infant bodily-self. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:77-87. [PMID: 32145222 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
During infancy relational experiences of body-to-body exchanges (i.e., embodied interactions) contribute to the infant's bodily perception. Early embodied interactions are based on countless multimodal reciprocal exchanges, in which mother and infant contribute to interpersonal rhythmic cycles of co-regulation (i.e., attunement). However, it remains unclear how infants and their mothers actually accomplish attunement in their exchanges. Interactions between mothers and their infants typically fluctuate between attuned and misattuned states and recovery attunement states by a process called 'reparation'. Here, we discuss recent neuroscientific evidence that provides insight into the mechanisms underpinning the concepts of attunement and misattunement in early embodied interactions. We propose that a process of embodied reparation might be achieved within the dyad through tactile contact behaviors (e.g., skin-to-skin, affectionate touch) and maternal interoceptive sensitivity (i.e., ability to perceive internal input about the state of one's own body). We describe how these elements that mothers provide during embodied interactions with their infants, might contribute not only to bodily attunement, but also to co-create the infant bodily-self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Montirosso
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy.
| | - Francis McGlone
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, LiverpoolJohn Moores University, Liverpool, UK; Institute of Psychology Health & Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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19
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Qiu N, Tang C, Zhai M, Huang W, Weng J, Li C, Xiao X, Fu J, Zhang L, Xiao T, Fang H, Ke X. Application of the Still-Face Paradigm in Early Screening for High-Risk Autism Spectrum Disorder in Infants and Toddlers. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:290. [PMID: 32582594 PMCID: PMC7290044 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can currently be diagnosed at the age of 2 years, age at ASD diagnosis is still 40 months or even later. In order to early screening for ASD with more objective method, behavioral videos were used in a number of studies in recent years. Method: The still-face paradigm (SFP) was adopted to measure the frequency and duration of non-social smiling, protest behavior, eye contact, social smiling, and active social engagement in high-risk ASD group (HR) and typical development group (TD) (HR: n = 45; TD: n = 43). The HR group was follow-up until they were 2 years old to confirm final diagnosis. Machine learning methods were used to establish models for early screening of ASD. Results: During the face-to-face interaction (FF) episode of the SFP, there were statistically significant differences in the duration and frequency of eye contact, social smiling, and active social engagement between the two groups. During the still-face (SF) episode, there were statistically significant differences in the duration and frequency of eye contact and active social engagement between the two groups. The 45 children in the HR group were reclassified into two groups after follow-up: five children in the N-ASD group who were not meet the criterion of ASD and 40 children in the ASD group. The results showed that the accuracy of Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification was 83.35% for the SF episode. Conclusion: The use of the social behavior indicator of the SFP for a child with HR before 2 years old can effectively predict the clinical diagnosis of the child at the age of 2 years. The screening model constructed using SVM based on the SF episode of the SFP was the best. This also proves that the SFP has certain value in high-risk autism spectrum disorder screening. In addition, because of its convenient, it can provide a self-screening mode for use at home. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-OPC-17011995.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Qiu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chuangao Tang
- School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengyao Zhai
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wanqing Huang
- College of Telecommunications & Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiao Weng
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunyan Li
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Xiao
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junli Fu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Ting Xiao
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Fang
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ke
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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20
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Stefana A, Lavelli M, Rossi G, Beebe B. Interactive sequences between fathers and preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Early Hum Dev 2019; 140:104888. [PMID: 31670161 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.104888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The first purpose of the study was to examine fathers' spontaneous communicative behavior with their preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, and how father's and infant's behaviors affected each other. The second purpose was to examine any possible association between the fathers' and/or infants' characteristics and the quality of fathers' behaviors with their infants. STUDY DESIGN/SUBJECTS/OUTCOME MEASURES Father-preterm infant dyads (n=20) were assessed at 34-36 weeks postmenstrual age, during a spontaneous face-to-face communication with the infant placed in a heated cot in the NICU, and coded according to the Parent-Preterm Infant Coding System. RESULTS The presence of the father's Affiliative Behavior increased the occurrences of infant Gazing at the parent's face. In turn, infant gazing increased the occurrence of paternal Affiliative Behavior. The likelihood of infant's Gazing at the father's face was also significantly elicited by infrequent occurrences of paternal Affectionate Talk, co-occurring with Gazing at infant with Positive Facial Affect (but no Touch). With regard to the predictors of quality in father-infant interactions, we found a significant positive correlation between fathers' level of depressive symptomatology and fathers' Affiliative Behavior. CONCLUSION Our results show the of bidirectional sequential patterns of communication between fathers and preterm infants at 35 weeks postmenstrual age, and provide important information about the quality and modalities of paternal communication and their influence on infant behavioral states. From a clinical perspective, these results suggest that father-specific interventions designed to improve and sustain fathers' positive engagement with infants in the NICU should be pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuela Lavelli
- Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Lungadige Porta Vittoria 17, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Germano Rossi
- Department of Psychology, University of Milan Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Beebe
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 40 Haven Avenue Unit 78 New York, NY 10032, USA
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21
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Pisoni C, Spairani S, Manzoni F, Ariaudo G, Naboni C, Moncecchi M, Balottin U, Tinelli C, Gardella B, Tzialla C, Stronati M, Bollani L, Orcesi S. Depressive symptoms and maternal psychological distress during early infancy: A pilot study in preterm as compared with term mother-infant dyads. J Affect Disord 2019; 257:470-476. [PMID: 31310909 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth does not only affect infants but also represents an unexpected and traumatic event for parents. There are few reports on parenting stress during early infancy comparing preterm and term mothers, with the results being somewhat inconsistent. METHODS As part of a longitudinal study, preterm mother-infant and term mother-infant dyads were enrolled. Dyads were assessed twice: during hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and at 3 months of infant age (corrected age for preterm). Each mother completed a self-report set of psychological questionnaire in both time points. All the children underwent a neurological examination at 40 weeks post conceptional age and at 3 months (corrected age for preterm). RESULTS 20 preterm and 20 term dyads were included. NICU mothers reported elevated postnatal depressive symptoms and high stress level, even if the preterm infants were with low perinatal risk and normal neurological examination. Comparing preterm infant with low perinatal risk and normal neurological examination with term-born children at 3 months, we found higher parental stress in term mothers than in preterm mothers. LIMITATIONS This study was limited by a relatively small sample size; findings are preliminary and warrant further investigation in larger-scale study. CONCLUSIONS Findings confirm that becoming a mother of a preterm infant is an event associated with emotional distress. These symptoms may resolve with time, and sometimes are independent of the infant's clinical severity. Assessing parental sources of stress and subsequent follow-up is essential to promote parental support, both for preterm and term mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Pisoni
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
| | - S Spairani
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Manzoni
- Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Ariaudo
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Naboni
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Moncecchi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - U Balottin
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Tinelli
- Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - B Gardella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Tzialla
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Stronati
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Bollani
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Orcesi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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22
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Montirosso R, Piazza C, Giusti L, Provenzi L, Ferrari PF, Reni G, Borgatti R. Exploring the EEG mu rhythm associated with observation and execution of a goal-directed action in 14-month-old preterm infants. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8975. [PMID: 31222153 PMCID: PMC6586615 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45495-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroencephalographic mu rhythm desynchronization is thought to reflect Mirror Neuron System (MNS) activity and represents an important neural correlate of the coupling between action execution and perception. It is still unclear if the MNS in human ontogeny is already available at the beginning of postnatal life and how early experience impacts its development. Premature birth provides a "natural condition" for investigating the effects of early, atypical extra-uterine experience on MNS. The main aim of the present study was to investigate whether the MNS activity is associated with prematurity. We compared the mu rhythm activity in preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) 14-month old infants during an action observation/execution (AO/AE) task. Mu rhythm desynchronization was computed over frontal, central, parietal and occipital regions. Both groups showed mu rhythm suppression in all the scalp regions during action execution. Different desynchronization patterns emerged during action observation. Specifically, FT infants showed mu suppression in the right frontal, bilateral parietal and occipital regions; whereas PT infants exhibited mu suppression only in the right parietal region. Overall, these preliminary findings indicate that an atypical extra uterine experience might have an impact on the MNS activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Montirosso
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
| | - Caterina Piazza
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", Bioengineering Laboratory, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Giusti
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Pier Francesco Ferrari
- CNRS/Université Claude Bernard, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Lyon, France
| | - Gianluigi Reni
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", Bioengineering Laboratory, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
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Stack DM, Matte-Gagné C, Dickson DJ. Persistence of Effects of VLBW/PT Birth Status and Maternal Emotional Availability (EA) on Child EA Trajectories. Front Psychol 2019; 9:2715. [PMID: 30761058 PMCID: PMC6361804 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies have examined the longitudinal impact of birth status on the infant-mother relationship and on children's socio-emotional development. In the present study we investigated developmental patterns of such relationships [using the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales] in fullterm and VLBW/PT infants from infancy to emerging school age. Our objectives were to: (a) model the developmental trajectories of EA dimensions (maternal sensitivity, structuring, non-hostility; child responsiveness, involvement) in a VLBW/PT and fullterm sample, (b) identify potential effects of VLBW/PT status on these trajectories, and (c) determine whether the effects of VLBW/PT status on children's socio-emotional development (child EA) remained after accounting for the effect of maternal EA. Child-mother dyads (n = 109) were observed in home-based interactions (face-to-face and free play) when children were 6, 12, 18, and 57-months-old in fullterm (37-41 weeks, >2500 g; n = 48) and healthy VLBW/PT (26-32 weeks gestation, birth weight 800-1500 g, corrected for gestational age; n = 61) children. Developmental trajectories of maternal and child EA were assessed using multilevel growth modeling in Mplus. Results indicated that, even after controlling for maternal EA, there was a persistent negative effect of VLBW/PT birth status on child EA trajectories. Both initially and over time, VLBW/PT infants lagged behind their fullterm counterparts on levels of responsiveness and involvement with mothers. There was also a persistent positive effect of maternal EA (sensitivity and structuring) on child EA trajectories. Higher average levels of maternal sensitivity and structuring across time were also associated with higher and persistent levels of child responsiveness and involvement of their mothers. Importantly, results held after modeling both effects together, and after controlling for maternal education and child gender. Our results have implications for VLBW/PT children's development, the parent-child relationship, and integrating family level factors and relationship dimensions in early prevention and intervention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale M. Stack
- Centre for Research in Human Development, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Daniel J. Dickson
- Centre for Research in Human Development, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Giusti L, Provenzi L, Montirosso R. The Face-to-Face Still-Face (FFSF) Paradigm in Clinical Settings: Socio-Emotional Regulation Assessment and Parental Support With Infants With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Front Psychol 2018; 9:789. [PMID: 29872416 PMCID: PMC5972309 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The Face-to-Face Still-Face (FFSF) paradigm is a well-acknowledged procedure to assess socio-emotional regulation in healthy and at-risk infants. Although it was developed mainly for research purposes, the FFSF paradigm has potential clinical implications for the assessment of socio-emotional regulation of infants with neurodevelopmental disabilities (ND) and to supporting parenting. Aim: The present paper describes the application of the FFSF paradigm as an evaluation and intervention tool in clinical practice with infants with ND and their parents. Methods: Theoretical and methodological insights for the use of the FFSF paradigm in the clinical setting are provided. Single-case vignettes from clinical practice further illustrate and provide exemplifications for the use of the FFSF with infants with ND and their parents. Results: From a clinical point of view, the use of the FFSF paradigm (1) offers a unique observational perspective on socio-emotional regulation in infants with ND and (2) enhances parents' sensitivity to their infants' behavior. Discussion: The FFSF paradigm appears to be a useful tool for clinical assessment of socio-emotional regulation in infants with ND and promote the quality of parenting and early parent-infant interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Livio Provenzi
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
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Provenzi L, Fumagalli M, Giorda R, Morandi F, Sirgiovanni I, Pozzoli U, Mosca F, Borgatti R, Montirosso R. Maternal Sensitivity Buffers the Association between SLC6A4 Methylation and Socio-Emotional Stress Response in 3-Month-Old Full Term, but not very Preterm Infants. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:171. [PMID: 28959218 PMCID: PMC5604082 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Very preterm (VPT) infants are hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and are exposed to life-saving procedures eliciting pain-related stress. Recent research documented that pain-related stress might result in birth-to-discharge increased methylation of serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) in VPT infants, leading to poorer stress regulation at 3 months of age in VPT infants compared to their full-term (FT) counterparts. Maternal sensitivity is thought to support infants' stress response, but its role in moderating the effects of altered SLC6A4 methylation is unknown. MAIN AIM To assess the role of maternal sensitivity in moderating the association between altered SLC6A4 methylation and stress response in 3-month-old VPT and FT infants. METHODS 53 infants (27 VPTs, 26 FTs) and their mothers were enrolled. SLC6A4 methylation was obtained from peripheral blood samples at NICU discharge for VPT infants and from cord blood at birth for FT infants. At 3 months (age corrected for prematurity), both groups participated to the face-to-face still-face (FFSF) paradigm to measure both infants' stress response (i.e., negative emotionality) and maternal sensitivity. RESULTS Maternal sensitivity did not significantly differ between VPT and FT infants' mothers. In VPT infants, higher SLC6A4 methylation at hospital discharge associates with higher negative emotionality during the FFSF. In FT infants, SLC6A4 methylation and maternal sensitivity significantly interacted to predict stress response: a positive significant association between SLC6A4 methylation and negative emotionality emerged only in FT infants of less-sensitive mothers. DISCUSSION Although no differences emerged in caregiving behavior in the two groups of mothers, maternal sensitivity was effective in moderating the effects of SLC6A4 methylation in FT infants, but not in VPT infants at 3 months. Speculatively, the buffering effect of maternal sensitivity observed in FT infants was disrupted by the altered early mother-infant contact due to NICU stay of the VPT group. These findings indirectly support that the effects of maternal sensitivity on infants' socio-emotional development might be time dependent, and that mother-infant interventions in the NICU need to be provided precociously within a narrow sensitive period after VPT birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Provenzi
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Monica Fumagalli
- NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Giorda
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | | | - Ida Sirgiovanni
- NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Uberto Pozzoli
- Bioinformatic Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Rosario Montirosso
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Lecco, Italy
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26
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Bagge SR, Westgate B, Few K, Clarke P, Adlam A, Walsh J, O'Brien M. Acceptability and feasibility of collecting psychosocial data from fathers of very low birth weight infants. J Child Health Care 2017; 21:283-291. [PMID: 29119814 DOI: 10.1177/1367493517715147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of collecting outcome data from parents of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to explore the psychological and social adaptation of fathers. Questionnaires were distributed to 38 parents of VLBW infants and 36 parents of term infants within a hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Field notes were also taken. Parents indicated collecting outcome data in this population was feasible and acceptable, but barriers and difficulties in data collection were identified, particularly for fathers. Furthermore, parents highlighted a lack of emotional support for fathers. In conclusion, research with parents of VLBW infants should happen with consultation, flexibility and measures designed specifically for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Bagge
- 1 School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - B Westgate
- 2 Department of Psychological Sciences, Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - K Few
- 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - P Clarke
- 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - A Adlam
- 4 College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - J Walsh
- 1 School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - M O'Brien
- 5 Thomas Coram Research Unit, University College London, Institute of Education, London, UK
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27
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Ohara M, Okada T, Aleksic B, Morikawa M, Kubota C, Nakamura Y, Shiino T, Yamauchi A, Uno Y, Murase S, Goto S, Kanai A, Masuda T, Nakatochi M, Ando M, Ozaki N. Social support helps protect against perinatal bonding failure and depression among mothers: a prospective cohort study. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9546. [PMID: 28842556 PMCID: PMC5572740 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08768-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Causal relationships between perinatal bonding failure, depression, and social support among mothers remain unclear. A total of 494 women (mean age 32.4 ± 4.5 years) completed the Mother-Infant Bonding Questionnaire (MIBQ), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Japanese version of the Social Support Questionnaire in early pregnancy before week 25 (T1) and 1 month after delivery (T2). Our model of recursive structured equation modeling (SEM) showed acceptable fit (CMIN/df = 2.2, CFI = 0.97, and RMSEA = 0.05). It was revealed that: (1) a lower number of supportive persons at T1 significantly predicted both MIBQ and EPDS scores at T1 and T2; (2) at T1, poorer satisfaction with the social support received significantly predicted EPDS scores; (3) both MIBQ and EPDS scores at T1 significantly predicted their respective scores at T2. Out cohort study indicates that the number of individuals who are available to provide social support and the degree of satisfaction with the level of social support received during pregnancy have a great influence on bonding failure and depression in the postpartum period. These findings suggest that psychosocial interventions that focus on these two aspects of social support during pregnancy are effective in preventing bonding failure and depression in the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masako Ohara
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Branko Aleksic
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mako Morikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Chika Kubota
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yukako Nakamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoko Shiino
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Aya Yamauchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yota Uno
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Satomi Murase
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | - Atsuko Kanai
- Graduate School of Education and Human Development, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoko Masuda
- Graduate School of Law, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakatochi
- Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiko Ando
- Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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