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Caldwell JM, Meredith PJ, Whittingham K, Ziviani J, Wilson T. Women pregnant after previous perinatal loss: relationships between adult attachment, shame, and prenatal psychological outcomes. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2024; 42:653-667. [PMID: 36800926 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2023.2180142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insecure adult attachment, shame, self-blame, and isolation following perinatal loss place bereaved women at risk of adverse psychological outcomes, which can impact child and family outcomes. To date, no research has considered how these variables continue to influence women's psychological health in pregnancy subsequent to loss. OBJECTIVE This study explored associations between prenatal psychological adjustment (less grief and distress) and adult attachment, shame, and social connectedness, in women pregnant after loss. METHOD Twenty-nine pregnant Australian women accessing a Pregnancy After Loss Clinic (PALC) completed measures of attachment styles, shame, self-blame, social connectedness, perinatal grief, and psychological distress. RESULTS Four 2-step hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed adult attachment (secure/avoidant/anxious; Step 1), shame, self-blame, and social connectedness (Step 2) explained 74% difficulty coping, 74% total grief, 65% despair, and 57% active grief. Avoidant attachment predicted more difficulty coping and higher levels of despair. Self-blame predicted more active grief, difficulty coping, and despair. Social connectedness predicted lower active grief, and significantly mediated relationships between perinatal grief and all three attachment patterns (secure/avoidant/anxious). CONCLUSIONS Although avoidant attachment and self-blame can heighten grief in pregnancy after loss, focusing on social connectedness may be a helpful way for prenatal clinicians to support pregnant women during their subsequent pregnancy - and in grief.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pamela J Meredith
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Koa Whittingham
- Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, UQ Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jenny Ziviani
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Trish Wilson
- Bereavement Support Service, Mater Mothers Hospital, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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2
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Pinto da Costa M, Virdi K, Kouroupa A. A Phone Pal to overcome social isolation in patients with psychosis-Findings from a feasibility trial. PLOS DIGITAL HEALTH 2024; 3:e0000410. [PMID: 38215157 PMCID: PMC10786382 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
People with psychosis often experience social isolation due to stigma. Several volunteering programmes that exist in the community to support patients expect in-person meetings, requiring greater availability and commitment. This study investigated the acceptability and feasibility of remote volunteering over a smartphone for people with psychosis over 12 weeks, exploring its potential impact on both patients and volunteers. A total of 36 participants took part in the study. In the first phase, six participants were recruited in less than three weeks in London. All established contact with their match, and there were no study withdrawals. In the second phase, 30 additional participants were recruited in four weeks, across the United Kingdom. Most patients and volunteers reported that they primarily used audio calls to make contact, followed by text messages, WhatsApp messages and video calls. There were improvements in patients' scores of quality of life, self-esteem, social contacts and symptoms, and in volunteers' ratings of quality of life, physical activity, self-esteem, social comparison, and social distance towards people with mental illness. This study demonstrates that it is feasible, acceptable and safe to remotely connect volunteers and people with psychosis who are afar. Trial registration: ISRCTN17586238 (registration date: 28/09/2018).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pinto da Costa
- King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirat Virdi
- Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Essex, United Kingdom
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Hoenicka MAK, López-de-la-Nieta O, Martínez Rubio JL, Shinohara K, Neoh MJY, Dimitriou D, Esposito G, Iandolo G. Parental bonding in retrospect and adult attachment style: A comparative study between Spanish, Italian and Japanese cultures. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278185. [PMID: 36454730 PMCID: PMC9714759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Attachment is an innate human relational mechanism that develops progressively from early childhood, influences individuals' representations and behaviors, shapes relationships, and affects the social and cultural environment. Parental bonding refers to the ability of parents to be emotionally and behaviorally available to the child during infancy. Attachment style refers to the individual's relational attitude in close relationships that influences adult love, bonding, handling relationships, and social exploration. The role of intergenerational, cultural and developmental factors influencing the relationship between the attachment style in adulthood and the parental bonding style recalled during childhood has been debated. This study explores the relationships between recalled parental bonding, adult attachment style, and cultural background in a sample of Spanish, Italian, and Japanese adults using a cross-sectional and cross-cultural design. For this purpose, the validated versions of the Experience in Close Relationship Scale and the Parental Bonding Instrument were administered to a non-clinical population of three hundred and five participants in the three countries. Results show that the most frequent adult attachment style is the secure style, followed by the dismissing-avoidant, the preoccupied, and the fearful-avoidant style. The dismissing-avoidant style was the most frequent insecure attachment style in the Japanese sample whereas the preoccupied style was the most frequent insecure attachment style in the Italians and Spaniards. Japanese are more anchored to the memory of maternal and paternal overprotection, which is related to more avoidance in actual close relationships. Spaniard's current relationships are mildly independent of recalled parental bonding, showing an association between lower current avoidance to primary parental care. In the Italian sample, there is no significant relationship between current adult close relationships and recalled parental bonding. These results suggest that different cultural models influence adult attachment representations differently, in terms of the weight placed on attachment-related avoidance, attachment-related anxiety, care, and overprotection in infant and adult relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oscar López-de-la-Nieta
- Department of Psychology, School of Biomedical Sciences, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Clinical Research & Diagnosis Division, SerenaMente Psychology & Consulting Service, Pinto, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Martínez Rubio
- Department of Psychology, School of Biomedical Sciences, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Kazuyuki Shinohara
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Michelle Jin Yee Neoh
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dagmara Dimitriou
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, University College London Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Affiliative Behaviour and Physiology Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Iandolo
- Department of Psychology, School of Biomedical Sciences, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Observation and Functional Diagnosis Division, PSISE Clinical and Developmental Psychological Service, Madrid, Spain
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Suttle M, Hall MW, Pollack MM, Berg RA, McQuillen PS, Mourani PM, Sapru A, Carcillo JA, Startup E, Holubkov R, Dean JM, Notterman DA, Meert KL. The Association between Therapeutic Alliance and Parental Health Outcomes following a Child's Death in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. J Pediatr Intensive Care 2021; 12:3-11. [PMID: 36742250 PMCID: PMC9894698 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1727179] [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: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic alliance reflects the strength and quality of the physician-patient/family relationship. We investigated the association between therapeutic alliance and bereaved parents' mental health and perceived overall health following their child's death in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Bereaved parents were surveyed 6 months after their child's death in a PICU affiliated with the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network. Parents were evaluated for complicated grief, depression, and post-traumatic stress using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), and the Short Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview (SPRINT), respectively. Overall health was evaluated using a single item. Therapeutic alliance between parents and their deceased child's PICU physicians was assessed using the Human Connection scale (HCS). Two hundred and thirty-five parents of 158 deceased children completed surveys. Mean ICG score was 34.4 ± 14.9 with 142 (60.4%) parents screening positive for complicated grief. Mean PHQ-8 score was 9.1 ± 6.2 with 102 (43.4%) screening positive for at least moderate depression. Mean SPRINT score was 14.6 ± 8.2 with 122 (51.9%) screening positive for post-traumatic stress disorder. Overall health was perceived as fair for 47 (20.0%) parents and poor for 10 (4.3%). Using multivariable modeling, higher HCS score (greater therapeutic alliance) was significantly associated with lower (better) ICG score (-0.23, 95% CI -0.42, -0.04, p = 0.018). HCS score was not significantly associated with PHQ-8, SPRINT, or overall health scores. We conclude that bereaved parents experience a high level of adverse mental health symptoms including complicated grief, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Greater therapeutic alliance with PICU physicians may lessen symptoms of complicated grief during bereavement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markita Suttle
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States
| | - Mark W. Hall
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States
| | - Murray M. Pollack
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, Washington, United States
| | - Robert A. Berg
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Patrick S. McQuillen
- Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Peter M. Mourani
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado, United States
| | - Anil Sapru
- Department of Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital, University of California Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Joseph A. Carcillo
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Emily Startup
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Richard Holubkov
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | | | - Daniel A. Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey, United States
| | - Kathleen L. Meert
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, United States,Address for correspondence Kathleen L. Meert, MD Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Michigan3901 Beaubien, Detroit, MI 48201United States
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Wang Q, Xu W, Ren L, Wang W, Wang Y. The relationship between hope and post-traumatic stress disorder in Chinese shidu parents: The mediating role of perceived stress. J Affect Disord 2019; 251:23-30. [PMID: 30897529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents who lost their only child and can not conceive another child, are known as shidu parents in China. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examine the mediating role of perceived stress between hope and PTSD symptoms in Chinese shidu parents. METHODS 295 shidu mothers and 197 shidu fathers were recruited in Shenyang city. Shidu parents were asked to complete a questionnaire including the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Herth hope index (HHI) and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Hierarchical linear regression was performed to assess the associations among hope, perceived stress and PTSD symptoms. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to explore the mediating role of perceived stress. RESULTS The prevalence of PTSD in Chinese shidu parents was 23.78%. Mothers were more likely to develop PTSD than fathers. For shidu fathers, the proportion of mediation of perceived stress was 39.48%. For shidu mothers, the proportion of mediation of perceived stress was 40.00%. LIMITATIONS Due to the cross-sectional design, the findings of the present study can not be used to establish formal causal relationships or to determine the direction of causality. Longitudinal studies are need to validate our findings. CONCLUSIONS Perceived stress partly mediated the relationship between hope and PTSD symptoms in Chinese shidu parents. The interventions of hope and perceived stress should be included in PTSD prevention. More assistance should be directed to improve the mental health of shidu mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Wang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China
| | - Weihua Xu
- Department of Family Development, Health and Family Planning Commission of Shenyang Municipality, No. 13 Beiqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, PR China
| | - Longfei Ren
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China
| | - Wenhao Wang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China.
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Opendak M, Sullivan RM. Unique infant neurobiology produces distinctive trauma processing. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2019; 36:100637. [PMID: 30889546 PMCID: PMC6969239 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Trauma experienced in early life has unique neurobehavioral outcomes related to later life psychiatric sequelae. Recent evidence has further highlighted the context of infant trauma as critical, with trauma experienced within species-atypical aberrations in caregiving quality as particularly detrimental. Using data from primarily rodent models, we review the literature on the interaction between trauma and attachment in early life, which highlights the role of the caregiver's presence in engagement of attachment brain circuitry and suppressing threat processing by the amygdala. Together these data suggest that infant trauma processing and its enduring effects are impacted by both the immaturity of brain areas for processing trauma and the unique functioning of the early-life brain, which is biased towards forming robust attachments regardless of the quality of care. Understanding the critical role of the caregiver in further altering early life brain processing of trauma is important for developing age-relevant treatment and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Opendak
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Child Study Center, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
| | - Regina M Sullivan
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Child Study Center, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
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Wang AN, Zhang W, Zhang JP, Huang FF, Ye M, Yao SY, Luo YH, Li ZH, Zhang J, Su P. Latent classes of resilience and psychological response among only-child loss parents in China. Stress Health 2017; 33:397-404. [PMID: 27790815 DOI: 10.1002/smi.2715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Only-child loss parents in China recently gained extensive attention as a newly defined social group. Resilience could be a probable solution out of the psychological dilemma. Using a sample of 185 only-child loss people, this study employed latent class analysis (a) to explore whether different classes of resilience could be identified, (b) to determine socio-demographic characteristics of each class, and (c) to compare the depression and the subjective well-being of each class. The results supported a three-class solution, defined as 'high tenacity-strength but moderate optimism class', 'moderate resilience but low self-efficacy class' and 'low tenacity but moderate adaption-dependence class'. Parents with low income and medical insurance of low reimbursement type and without endowment insurance occupied more proportions in the latter two classes. The latter two classes also had a significant higher depression scores and lower subjective well-being scores than high tenacity-strength but moderate optimism class. Future work should care those socio-economically vulnerable bereaved parents, and an elastic economic assistance policy was needed. To develop targeted resilience interventions, the emphasis of high tenacity-strength but moderate optimism class should be the optimism. Moderate resilience but low self-efficacy class should be self-efficacy, and low tenacity but moderate adaption-dependence class should be tenacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Ni Wang
- Nursing Psychology Research Center, Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Nursing Psychology Research Center, Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing-Ping Zhang
- Nursing Psychology Research Center, Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fei-Fei Huang
- School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, Changsha, China
| | - Man Ye
- Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shu-Yu Yao
- Nursing Psychology Research Center, Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan-Hui Luo
- Nursing Psychology Research Center, Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhi-Hua Li
- Institute of Education, Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Nursing Psychology Research Center, Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pan Su
- Nursing Psychology Research Center, Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Latent Profiles of Posttraumatic Growth and Their Relation to Differences in Resilience among Only-Child-Lost People in China. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167398. [PMID: 28005990 PMCID: PMC5179078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Since the early 1980s, the one-child policy has been implemented nationwide in China. A special group called the "only-child-lost family" (OCL family) has emerged and has become a social phenomenon that cannot be ignored. We report latent profiles of posttraumatic growth and their relation to differences in resilience among OCL people in China. METHODS A total of 222 OCL people were investigated using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Latent profile analysis was applied to explore PTG latent profiles. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the socio-demographic variables in each latent profile and the association between profile membership and resilience. RESULTS Three latent profiles were identified and labeled the "high appreciation-power group" (30.6%), the "general moderate growth group" (47.7%) and the "low growth and extreme possibility group" (21.7%). Compared to those in the high appreciation-power group, individuals with monthly income >2000 ($312) were less likely to be in the general moderate growth group (OR = 0.13, P<0.01), whereas individuals with a spouse were less likely to be in the low growth and extreme possibility group (OR = 0.43, P<0.01). Individuals in the "general moderate growth group"(OR = 0.92, P<0.01, 95%CI:0.89-0.94) and the "low growth and extreme possibility" groups (OR = 0.83, P<0.01, 95%CI:0.79-0.87) demonstrated significantly lower levels of resilience compared to the high appreciation-power group. CONCLUSION The PTG patterns in only-child-lost parents were varied. Promoting resilience may be a way to foster these parents' PTG. Targeted intervention should be developed based on the characteristics of each latent class, and timely attention must be paid to the mental health of OCL parents who are without a spouse and have low income.
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Opendak M, Sullivan RM. Unique neurobiology during the sensitive period for attachment produces distinctive infant trauma processing. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2016; 7:31276. [PMID: 27837581 PMCID: PMC5106868 DOI: 10.3402/ejpt.v7.31276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trauma has neurobehavioral effects when experienced at any stage of development, but trauma experienced in early life has unique neurobehavioral outcomes related to later life psychiatric sequelae. Recent evidence has further highlighted the context of infant trauma as a critical variable in determining its immediate and enduring consequences. Trauma experienced from an attachment figure, such as occurs in cases of caregiver child maltreatment, is particularly detrimental. METHODS Using data primarily from rodent models, we review the literature on the interaction between trauma and attachment in early life, which highlights the role of the caregiver's presence in engagement of attachment brain circuitry and suppressing threat processing by the amygdala. We then consider how trauma with and without the caregiver produces long-term changes in emotionality and behavior, and suggest that these experiences initiate distinct pathways to pathology. RESULTS Together these data suggest that infant trauma processing and its enduring effects are impacted by both the immaturity of brain areas for processing trauma and the unique functioning of the early-life brain, which is biased toward processing information within the attachment circuitry. CONCLUSION An understanding of developmental differences in trauma processing as well as the critical role of the caregiver in further altering early life brain processing of trauma is important for developing age-relevant treatment and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Opendak
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.,Child Study Center, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA;
| | - Regina M Sullivan
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.,Child Study Center, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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