Early Mother-child Relationship Research Articles

Effects of adverse childhood experiences on observed parenting and children's behavior problems among Jewish and Arab Muslim families in Israel.

Research points to the substantial impact of parents' exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on parents and their children. However, most studies have been conducted in North America, and research on ACEs effects on observed parenting or on intergenerational transmission of ACE effects is limited. We therefore studied families from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds in Israel and examined whether mothers' ACEs hampered maternal sensitivity and the quality of the home environment and whether mothers' psychological distress mediated these links. We also explored whether mothers' ACEs predicted children's behavior problems indirectly through maternal psychological distress and whether maternal sensitivity and the home environment attenuated this mediating path. Participants were 232 mothers (Mchild age = 18.40 months, SD = 1.76; 63.36% non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish, 17.24% ultra-Orthodox Jewish, 19.40% Arab Muslim). Results showed mothers' ACEs were directly associated with decreased maternal sensitivity. Mothers' ACEs were indirectly associated with more behavior problems in children through mothers' higher psychological distress, and maternal sensitivity moderated this indirect link; it was significant only for mothers who showed lower sensitivity. Findings emphasize the significant role ACEs play in early mother-child relationships. The importance of including ACE assessment in research and practice with families of infants and toddlers is discussed.

Examination of Home-Based Number and Operation Training Program on Early Mathematics Ability and Mother-Child Relationship

This study aims to examine the effect of the "Number and Operation Training Program" on early mathematics ability and mother-child relationship at home. In an experimental design, pre-test, post-test, permanence test were used with control groups. A total of 21 children and their mothers participated in the research; consisting of 13 children in the experimental group and 8 children in the control group in the Aksaray province (in Turkey). Personal Information Form, Early Mathematics Ability Test-3, Child-Parent Relationship Scale and Mother Interview Form were used as data collection tools. The training program had been implemented for 13 weeks prior to the data collection. The study found that the training program increased children's scores on early mathematics ability and the positive relationship with their mothers. Mothers stated that the most important contributions of the training program to their children were "recognizing numbers, learning numbers, learning geometric shapes, knowing the total number of objects displayed in the group, learning new games and playing games with family members". They also stated that the most important gains for them were “better relationship and quality time with their children and increased use of mathematics in daily life”.

Inner child of the past: long-term protective role of childhood relationships with mothers and fathers and maternal support for mental health in middle and late adulthood.

National longitudinal studies that investigate the long-term association between early family life and mental health in middle and older adulthood are limited. This study aims to fill the gap by examining the protective effect of positive childhood relationships with mothers and fathers and parental support against depression among women and men in middle and late adulthood. The sample of 12,606 adults (7319 females; 5287 males) from the US Health and Retirement Study was nationally representative with the inclusion of 7 depression measures from 2008 to 2018. Two depression measures, CESD-8 scale and binary indicators of severe depressive symptoms, were used. Generalized estimation equations (GEE)-negative binomial models were estimated for CESD-8 and GEE-logit models were estimated for the binary indicator of severe depression. This study aimed to assess how positive parent-child relationships and maternal support protect the mental health of women and men in adulthood. Other risk and psychosocial factors, such as childhood depression, traumatic life events, stressful life events, marital status, and social support in adulthood were adjusted for. Positive childhood relationships with mothers, fathers, or both parents and increased maternal support were associated with a lower risk of depression among both females and males from middle to old age, even if they experienced trauma, stressful life events, divorce, singlehood, widowhood, or little social support. Females benefited more psychologically than males from positive mother-daughter relationships and high-quality relationships with both parents. However, compared to mother-child relationships, positive father-child relationships protected men better psychosocially than females. Findings underscore the importance of fathers' roles in promoting their children's, especially sons', emotional well-being. Interventions in early mother-child and father-child relationships and parental support are crucial for healthy aging in mental development.

From pregnancy to 3 months after birth:the beginning of mother-infant relationship from a maternal perspective

ABSTRACT Background An early positive mother-child relationship is a central factor in the development of a psychologically balanced personality. The study aims to identify risk and protective factors for the development of a balanced maternal-infant postnatal attachment. We explored the association between maternal-infant attachment and prenatal and postnatal variables potentially implicated in the development of this early bond: maternal-foetal prenatal attachment, social support, memories of parental care, romantic attachment, dyadic adjustment, parity, breastfeeding, planning pregnancy, woman’s and infant’s age, and difficulty of delivery. Methods 123 pregnant women participated in the longitudinal study; they were assessed on the MAAS, PBI, ECR-R, MSPSS (t1: pregnancy), MPAS (t2: 3-months postnatally), DAS , and CES-D (t1, t2). Results Four significant predictors of maternal-infant postnatal attachment (MPAS) emerged: maternal-foetal prenatal attachment (β = 0.379, p < .001), anxiety in the romantic relationships (β=−0.237, p=0.019), prenatal and postnatal dyadic adjustment (t1, β=−0.323, p=0.025 ;t2, β=0.329, p=0.014) in the couple’s relationship. These variables explained 20.2% of variance in mother-infant attachment (R 2adjusted=0.202). Discussion The study highlights associations of maternal-infant postnatal attachment with prenatal and postnatal relational variables and with other variables related to the woman’s reproductive and pregnancy history. Clinical attention to these factors could help protect the well-being of mother and child

Analysis of the early mother-child relationship in schizophrenic patients.

The mother as the first caregiver plays a significant role in the formation of the child's behavior, growth, and communication. The present study aimed to analyze the early mother-child relationship in schizophrenic patients. This qualitative study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach. The participants were male patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized in Qazvin Bahman Psychiatric Hospital from March to September 2020 with an age range of over 18 years. Given the objective of the study, the data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The participants were selected using purposive sampling and the sampling procedure continued until data saturation as the point when no new information is observed in the data. Accordingly, the data were saturated after interviewing 15 participants. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. The analysis of the data revealed four main themes including ambivalent attachment to the mother, feelings of constant fear and worry, a sense of constant care for the mother, and a cold and emotionless relationship with the child. The present study suggested that schizophrenia is a disorder that affects the mother-child relationship, and does the term "schizophrenic mothers" need to be reconsidered? However, the result of this research has been done according to the nature and cultural context of Iranian society.

Optimization of neonatal hospital care for very preterm babies while supporting early parent-child relationships

Research shows that not only medical but also psychological factors such as parents' emotional state, their parenting skills, quality of very early relationships with the infant influence child's physical and mental health and development. The support of good infant-mother relationships is an essential part of early family-centered help to premature babies. The article reviews existing evidence-based programs of neonatal care and support of early mother-child relationships for preterm babies at the hospital. It covers three main directions: discussing with parents prognosis of a child's health and development; supporting natural conditions of child development, and including parents into child early care and observation. Data presented in the article shows that if using each of the mentioned above directions that are important for quality early care and interaction, positive dynamics is seen both on parents' and preterm infant's side. Designated programs can be widely implemented in neonatal intensive care units for children born before term, including those with extremely low body weight when they achieve clinical stabilization. The material presented in the article may be used as the scientific base for implementing in Russian Federation early care system both at the hospital level and, later, in the family environment. It also constitutes new directions for research of preterm babies and their parents.

Special features of designing a correction program for adolescents who have signs of psychosomatic disorders

The relevance of the research is related to the need for studying the character of psychosomatic disorders in adolescence, which is insufficiently investigated and requires more in-depth research, in particular designing a comprehensive program that includes a system of training exercises to overcome psychosomatic disorders. The problem of studying psychosomatic relationships is one of the most difficult problems of modern psychology and medicine, despite the fact that the close connection between mental and somatic has been studied for several centuries. Mental trauma is a leading cause of neuroses formation and progress, its pathogenic significance is determined by the complex interaction with many other factors being a result of an individual’s life, formation of his body and personality, especially in adolescence. The subject of the research is to study special features of psychosomatic disorders, as well as to design a program for adolescents with signs of neurotic disorders. The subject matter of the research is the peculiarities of psychosomatic disorders manifestation and neurotic signs in adolescence. The article presents a theoretical analysis of modern approaches in psychology to the study of psychosomatic disorders peculiarities, their classification, considering the signs of neurotic disorders in adolescence. The work analyzes age characteristics of psychosomatic disorders in adolescence. Modern adolescents are exposed to various stressors, to the impact of audiovisual information, school overload, extra classes, exams, and a special problem that is a change in quality of life and prevalence of alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction, especially drug addiction among adolescents. The complex of these factors has negative consequences both on a psychological and physical level. Most authors who study the causes of psychosomatic illnesses recognize the important role of parents in the development of mentally and physically healthy children. Many studies highlight the role of early mother-child relationships in the formation of psychosomatic pathology. Various violations of this relationship usually lead to abnormalities in a child’s development. (M. Mahler, E. T. Eidemiller, Yustitskis, D. Winnicott, M. Klein). The results of an empirical study aimed at identifying signs of psychosomatic disorders are considered. The following methods were used: observation, questionnaires, and such methods as diagnosis of neurotic disorders in adolescence (DND), diagnosis of the level of school anxiety by Phillips, “Non-existent animal” by M.Z. Drukarevich. The peculiarities of designing and testing the correction program, which is aimed at reducing the signs of neurotic manifestations in adolescence, are revealed. Objectives of the correction program are: searching for interaction of adolescents with society, finding and testing skills of effective response to external stimuli; increasing the level of self-esteem; removal of emotional tension; reducing anxiety. The results confirm the possibility of reducing the signs of neurotic manifestations of adolescents and help to delay or completely stop a possible personality disorder.

Transition to Kindergarten: Negative Associations between the Emotional Availability in Mother-Child Relationships and Elevated Cortisol Levels in Children with an Immigrant Background.

Background: The transition to child care is a challenging time in a child’s life and leads to elevated levels of cortisol. These elevations may be influenced by the quality of the mother–child relationship. However, remarkably little is known about cortisol production in response to the beginning of child care among children-at-risk such as children with an immigrant background. However, attending kindergarten or any other child day-care institution can for example have a compensating effect on potential language deficits thus improving the educational opportunities of these children.Method: Data of a subsample of N = 24 “hard-to-reach” mother–child dyads was collected in the context of the psychoanalytic early prevention project FIRST STEPS. The project focuses on the earliest integration of children with an immigrant background by supporting parenting capacities in the critical phase of migration and early parenthood. Children’s hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was assessed 1 week before (mean age = 38.77 months) and 3 months after kindergarten entry (mean age = 42.26 months). Hair analysis was conducted for both times of measurement, reflecting the first 3 months after kindergarten entry and 3 months prior. Furthermore, the emotional quality of the mother–child relationship was assessed with the help of the Emotional Availability Scales (EAS; Biringen, 2008) shortly before kindergarten entry when the children were about 3 years old (mean age = 37.2).Results and Conclusion: Children’s mean cumulated HCC was higher after kindergarten entry than before. The increase correlated negatively with several dimensions of the EAS. Repeated measures ANCOVA revealed that particularly responsive children and children who had experienced less intrusive mother–child relationships demonstrated lower elevations in HCC after kindergarten entry. Furthermore, a decreased EA score was found in all EA dimensions, besides the dimension “mother’s non-hostility,” indicating problematic EA within the mother–child relationships of the sample. The results suggest that children with an immigrant background who experience more emotional available mother–child relationships seem to regulate stress induced by kindergarten entry more effectively, indicated by lower cortisol elevations after entry. This implicates that supporting early mother–child relationships by intervention may have a positive effect on the children’s ability to regulate stress induced by kindergarten entry thus promoting child development.

A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Early Parenting Behaviors.

On the basis of self-determination theory, this study investigates longitudinal associations between satisfaction and frustration mothers' basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, relatedness, competence) and mothers' postnatal depressive symptoms and early parenting behaviors. Participants were 214 women assessed during their pregnancy (Time 1), 4 months after delivery (Time 2), and when the child was 2 years old (Time 3). Results demonstrate effects of prenatal basic psychological needs (needs frustration more specifically) on postnatal depressive symptoms. In addition, general prenatal needs satisfaction and frustration predicted more relationship-specific needs satisfaction and frustration, respectively (in the mother-child relationship). In turn, postnatal relationship-specific needs satisfaction predicted more high-quality parenting when the child is 2 years old. More specifically, needs satisfaction was related to more maternal responsiveness and autonomy support. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of psychological needs experiences for both mothers' personal adjustment after birth and for the early mother-child relationship.

Breastfeeding in Women Having Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can have a serious effect on general and obstetric health. Breastfeeding includes several triggers for memories of abuse experiences, which will likely influence decisions about breastfeeding and its implementation in daily life. This is important since breastfeeding improves maternal well-being and bonding with the child. Research aim: As breastfeeding strongly influences the long-term health of children, we investigated experiences with breastfeeding in women with a history of CSA. Data on breastfeeding were collected within a research project designed to compare labor and delivery experiences in women with a history of CSA to women without such antecedents. Data from 85 women having experienced CSA and 170 controls pair-matched for maternal age, children's age, and nationality were evaluated. The clinical record of pregnancy and a self-administered questionnaire were used to collect data. Although the prevalence of breastfeeding was similar in women with and without CSA experiences (96.5% vs. 90.6%), women exposed to CSA more often described complications associated with breastfeeding (77.7% vs. 67.1%, p = .08). Mastitis (49.4% vs. 27.6%, p < .01) and pain (29.4% vs. 18.8%, p = .15) were reported significantly more often by women after CSA. For 20% of women after CSA, breastfeeding was a trigger for memories of CSA. Furthermore, 58% of women with CSA reported dissociation when breastfeeding. In addition to the growing list of potential health consequences of CSA experience, this experience seems to be associated with an increased number of problems when breastfeeding. However, most women with a history of CSA intend to breastfeed despite particular challenges related to CSA. A support protocol tailored to the specific needs of these women during pregnancy and the lactation period may help to improve breastfeeding and the early mother-child relationship.

Mentalization and attachment representations: A theoretical contribution to the understanding of reactive attachment disorder

This article proposes an understanding of children with reactive attachment disorder (RAD) through psychoanalytic thought and mentalization theory. RAD is presented followed by a discussion on attachment and the need for a better understanding of this disorder. Theories from British psychoanalytic thinkers are used to describe what might be transpiring in the early relationship between mother and child. Particular attention is given to how children's internal objects are influenced by a compromised early mother-child relationship.

Lacan, the Object a and the Post-Freudian Child

This paper uses the concept of object a as a starting point and a guideline for a theoretical discussion aiming to demonstrate the divergence between freudian and post-freudian theories about the object relation. Lacan’s object a is derived from Klein’s partial object and Winnicott’s transitional object. Thus there is a significant difference in the nature of the object involved. Lacan’s object a is heavily dependent upon an interpretation of Freud’s theory of the object of the drive and of the lack of the object during the absence and the presence of the mother. By the concept of object a, Lacan seeks to answer the question of closed system of post-freudian ‘early mother child relationship’. According to Lacan, post-freudian child could never escape from the ‘maternal circuit’ without the partial object, the breast, faeces, the phallus, the gaze, the voice etc., which conveys the lack of the objet. Lacan struggles with theorizing ‘logic of phantasy’, ‘need-demand-desire triad’, concepts of ‘Language’ and ‘signifier’, and reformulates meta-psychological dimensions of castration. He explains the link between the object a and Freud’s theory of phantasy formation and articulates his return to Freud by re-introducing the function of the father.

"There's no such thing as a patient": reflections on the significance of the work of D. W. Winnicott for modern inpatient psychiatric treatment.

The writings of D. W. Winnicott, British pediatrician and psychoanalyst, focus on the details of the early dyadic mother-child relationship and how impingements on the smooth unfolding of the developmental process can lead to psychopathology. Several of his concepts, such as holding environment and transitional object, have permeated into psychiatric theory and practice. The scope of his creative theoretical and clinical thinking goes far beyond these well-known terms and has particular relevance to the acute inpatient psychiatric setting. This article outlines the significance of Winnicott's major ideas and how they can be used to better understand the mutative factors of inpatient treatment, to illuminate complex clinical interactions, and to assist in guiding care of psychiatric inpatients.

Attachment insecurity predicts child active resistance to parental requests in a compliance task

We studied the effects of early mother-child relationship quality and child temperament on the development of child compliance and active resistance in a large population-based cohort study (n = 534). Parenting and the quality of the parent-child relationship can either hamper or support the development of child compliance directly or in interplay with child temperament. Mother-infant dyads were observed at 14 and 36 months and maternal and child behaviours were independently coded. The quality of compliance was assessed at 36 months in a clean-up task. Child behaviour was coded using a system differentiating between two dimensions: Compliance and Active Resistance. Controlling for concurrent maternal sensitivity, child temperament, and gender children with a more insecure attachment relationship showed higher levels of active resistance during Clean-Up than more securely attached children. The effect was stronger for boys than for girls and mainly driven by attachment avoidance. Early attachment is an important contributor to child socialization of moral behaviour.

Interplay of genes and early mother–child relationship in the development of self‐regulation from toddler to preschool age

A broad capacity for deliberate self-regulation plays a key role in emotion regulation. This longitudinal investigation from infancy to preschool age examines genotype by environment (G x E) interaction in the development of self-regulation, using molecular measures of children's genotypes and observed measures of the quality of early mother-child relationship, as reflected in attachment organization in infancy. In 89 children, we assessed the polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR, ss/sl vs. ll allele status), security of attachment to mothers at 15 months in the Strange Situation, and children's ability for self-regulation at 25, 38, and 52 months, using behavioral batteries of tasks that called for deliberately suppressing a dominant response and performing instead a sub-dominant response. There was a robust G x E interaction between genetic risk and the quality of early relationship. Among children who carried a short 5-HTTLPR allele (ss/sl ), those who were insecurely attached developed poor regulatory capacities, but those who were securely attached developed as good regulatory capacities as children who were homozygotic for the long allele (ll ). There was no effect of security for ll homozygotes. Those findings, consistent with diathesis-stress model, bridge research on self-regulation in typically developing children with research on non-human primates and research on psychopathology. They also indicate that a secure attachment relationship can serve as a protective factor in the presence of risk conferred by a genotype.

Attachment stability and the emergence of unresolved representations during adolescence

This 15-year longitudinal study examined the stability of attachment representations from infancy to adolescence and investigated the emergence of unresolved representations during adolescence in a sample of 47 16-year-olds. Attachment was assessed at 12 months using the Strange Situation Procedure, at 4 years using the modified Strange Situation Procedure, and again at 16 years with the Adult Attachment Projective (AAP). The emergence of unresolved classifications in adolescence (AAP) was associated with higher rates of negative life events, low levels of early mother–child relationship security (an aggregate measure of the 12-month and 4-year measures), negative teacher–child relationship experiences in middle childhood, and low early adolescent friendship quality. The results support the growing body of evidence suggesting that changes in attachment are lawful, while adding to the growing understanding of the emergence of unresolved attachment representations.

Contributions of the mother–infant relationship to dissociative, borderline, and conduct symptoms in young adulthood

Recent high-risk longitudinal studies have documented a unique contribution of the quality of the early mother-child relationship to diverse forms of psychopathology in young adulthood, even with family economic status, later traumatic experiences, and some genetic factors controlled. In addition, measures of attachment-related deviations in caregiver-infant interaction predict more than measures of infant attachment behavior alone. This article reviews those findings in the context of cross-disciplinary thinking on the importance of shared subjectivities in human evolution and development and in the context of recent studies beginning to map the intersection between processes of interaction and the development of the child's propensities to share mental states with others.

What happens after the cutting of the umbilical cord? Breastfeeding as a central symbol of the early mother-child relationship and its social implications in Germany

Les nouvelles techniques biomédicales ont un impact profond, voire révolutionnaire, sur nos conceptions de la parenté, de la famille ou de nos rapports sociaux de sexe, constat qui a reçu une attention croissante de la part des sciences sociales au cours de la dernière décennie. Les progrès technologiques dans le domaine de la technique et de l’analyse médicales, par exemple, ont une influence directe sur ce qu’on peut globalement appeler le « discours sur l’allaitement », et indirecte sur la représentation du rôle de la femme dans une société particulière. Dans cet article, nous cherchons à montrer que ce discours traduit plutôt des effets conservateurs de la pratique et de la théorie actuelles dans le domaine biomédical et que la nourriture, la science et la technologie contribuent ensemble à restaurer ou renforcer les conceptions traditionnellement perçues au sein de la société allemande.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mother-Infant or Toddler Parenting Program: Demonstrating Effectiveness in Practice

Describes outcomes of an intervention aimed to improve infant or toddler care and reduce parental distress. A randomized controlled trial method was used with 118 mothers. Participants were allocated to an intervention group (n = 65) or an enhanced waitlist group (n = 53). Measures were taken at pre-, post-, and 6-weeks follow-up. Results demonstrated that mothers who attended the program reported improvement in depression, anxiety, stress, parental satisfaction, and decreases in problematic child behavior. Improvements were maintained at the 6-week follow up. Intention-to-treat analysis replicated the results, although with smaller effect sizes. The results of this study demonstrate that delivery of a 1 day intervention for distressed mothers can contribute to lower levels of parental distress and child problem behavior. Given the importance of early mother-child relationships and the limited number of well-controlled studies on brief interventions this result is of significance to researchers and the service community.

Postnatal depression and the original mother–child relationship: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundPrevious studies assessing the role of early mother–child relationship as a risk factor for postnatal depression have been cross-sectional and/or retrospective in nature. AimsTo examine associations between early mother–child relationship (assessed prospectively and retrospectively) and later risk of postnatal depression. MethodsDataset from national 1946 birth cohort study; 1137 women at age 51, completed a modified version of the Bromley Postnatal Depression Scale. ResultsCompared with women who did not experience maternal separation or recalled moderate to best level of care, women who experienced maternal separation for 3.5 days or more in early childhood and who felt they received a low level of maternal care were at higher risk of postnatal depression (odds ratio (95% CI): 2.4 (1.51–3.79), p=0.001); this relationship was robust to adjustment for current psychological status. Regular enuresis at age of 6 years (2.2 (1.01–4.90), p=0.05), and lack of emotional closeness in current maternal relationship (1.6 (1.01–2.46), p=0.04) were also associated with increased postnatal depression risk. Insufficient evidence was found for a link between other indicators of early behaviour and temperament (anxious, antisocial, or neurotic behaviour) and reported postnatal depression. LimitationsPostnatal depression was assessed retrospectively using self-report, introducing potential bias in recall. ConclusionWomen who experienced early maternal separation and recalled the lowest level of maternal care had a particularly high risk of postnatal depression. In the treatment and management of postnatal depression, the results support health professionals in their consideration of the woman's past and current relationship with her mother; both actual events and the woman's perceptions of them.