Abstract
AbstractThis prospective longitudinal study examined how maternal prenatal substance use disorder (SUD) and early mother–infant interaction quality are associated with child social cognition (emotion recognition and mentalization) at school age. A sample of 52 poly‐substance‐using mothers receiving early interventions and 50 non‐users, along with their children, was followed from pregnancy to school age. First‐year mother–infant interaction quality was measured with EA scales. At school age, child facial emotion recognition was measured with DANVA and mentalization with LEAS‐C. SUD group children did not differ from comparison children in social cognition, but higher severity of maternal prenatal addiction predicted emotion recognition problems. High early mother–infant interaction quality predicted better emotion recognition and mentalization, and mother–infant interaction quality mediated the effect of prenatal SUD on emotion recognition. The results highlight the need for early treatments targeting both parenting and addiction, as well as long‐term developmental support for these children.Highlights We examined how mother's prenatal substance use disorder (SUD) and early mother–infant interaction predict child social cognition at school age. Questionnaires, observational and computer tasks were used. Maternal prenatal addiction severity and early parenting problems predicted problematic child social cognition. Early interventions should simultaneously target addiction and parenting. Attention should also be paid to the long‐term developmental support of children.
Highlights
Social cognition refers to the array of processes children use for assessing and interpreting social information to navigate relationships (Frith & Frith, 2012; Pennington, 2000)
Our study examines the relative contributions of maternal prenatal substance use disorder (SUD)—including addiction severity—and early mother–infant interaction quality during the first year on the development of children's social cognition at school age
We hypothesize that higher early mother–infant interaction quality will be associated with better facial emotion recognition accuracy and self- and other-directed mentalization at school age, despite maternal SUD
Summary
Social cognition refers to the array of processes children use for assessing and interpreting social information to navigate relationships (Frith & Frith, 2012; Pennington, 2000). Our study examines the relative contributions of maternal prenatal SUD—including addiction severity—and early mother–infant interaction quality during the first year on the development of children's social cognition (emotion recognition and mentalization) at school age. We examine whether maternal addiction severity, as indicated by the mother's physical and psychological dependence on alcohol and drugs, as well as perceived harm from drugs, is associated with the development of a child's social cognition. The current study aims to shed light on the relative contributions and pathways between maternal prenatal SUD, including addiction severity, and early mother–infant interaction quality for the development of children's social cognition. We hypothesize that higher early mother–infant interaction quality will be associated with better facial emotion recognition accuracy and self- and other-directed mentalization at school age, despite maternal SUD. We hypothesize that the negative effects of maternal prenatal SUD will be mediated via the lower quality of mother–infant interaction, which will predict poor emotion recognition accuracy and mentalization
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