Infant Attachment Research Articles

The impact of low birthweight in infant patterns of regulatory behavior, mother-infant quality of interaction, and attachment

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.

Adolescent affective psychopathic traits: the long-term outcomes of mother-infant attachment across 14years.

Affective psychopathic traits have been associated with increased violence and aggression. The scholarly interest in the pathways leading to affective psychopathic traits in adolescence has been growing. Infant attachment security may be one of the early life factors that contribute to the development of affective psychopathic traits. In this study, we test the infant attachment styles measured with the Strange Situation Procedure as a predictor of adolescent affective psychopathic traits measured in three dimensions: remorselessness, unemotionality, and callousness, among 1149 families in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD). Propensity scores for the four attachment styles were estimated with iterative tree-based regression models. After accounting for the potential confounding effects of demographic characteristics and child temperament with the inverse probability of treatment weighting, weighted generalized linear models revealed the association between insecure/avoidant attachment style measured one year after childbirth and higher levels of remorselessness, unemotionality, and callousness at 15years. These findings provide insights into the long-term outcomes for attachment relationships established in early life.

Investigating the relationship levels of fathers with 6- to 12-month-old babies with their fathers and their attachment status with their babies*

ABSTRACT This study has been conducted to examine the relationship levels of fathers who have 6- to 12-month-old babies with their fathers, and their attachment status with their babies. The sample group consisted of 313 fathers. Fatherhood Scale and Father–Infant Attachment Scale have been applied to the fathers who participated in our study, respectively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test were performed according to the variables of the scores obtained from the scales. Bonferroni test has been applied in Post-Hoc tests to those with significant results in ANOVA. The Pearson Correlation analysis has been performed to determine the relationship between the sub-dimensions of the Fatherhood Scale and the sub-dimensions of the Father–Baby Attachment Scale. It has been determined that there is a negative relationship between Patience–Tolerance and Love–Pride, which are sub-dimensions of Father–Infant Attachment. The research findings were interpreted and suggestions were made.

P505. Infant-Parent Attachment and Psychotic Symptoms: The Neurodevelopmental Origins of Psychosis

Early-life adversities are robustly associated with subsequent psychosis, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. One potential mediator often hypothesized is the infant-parent attachment relationship, because it is established early in development, representing the child’s stress-response strategy and the mental image of the self and others. To date, research on infant attachment and psychosis is almost non-existent.

Variation in the Mu-Opioid Receptor (OPRM1) and Offspring Sex Are Associated With Maternal Behavior in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).

A μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) single-nucleotide-polymorphism, found in both humans and rhesus macaques mediates the mother-infant attachment bond. Because mothers treat their sons and daughters differently, it is somewhat surprising that the role of infant sex has not been assessed in the context of a maternal-OPRM1-genotype-by-infant-sex interaction. The present study investigates the effect of maternal-OPRM1-genotype and infant sex on mother-infant behaviors. Over the first 6 months of offspring life, mother-infant behavioral data assessing attachment quality was collected twice weekly from a large number of rhesus monkey mother-infant pairs (N = 161 dyads; n = 64 female infants, n = 97 male infants). Mothers were genotyped for OPRM1 variation. Factor analysis of the observed behaviors showed two factors: Attachment (maternal-infant cradling, rejections, and infant approaches and leaves), and Maternal Restraints (mother restrains infant, preventing exploration). Further analyses showed a two-way, maternal-genotype-by-infant-sex interaction for both factors. For Attachment, mothers with the CC genotype cradled and restrained (Maternal Restraints) their female infants more and rejected them less, when compared to female infants of CG mothers. Perhaps as a consequence, female infants of CC genotype mothers approached and left their mothers less often, when compared to female infants of CG mothers, likely an indication that female infants from mothers with CG genotype play a greater role in maintaining the mother-infant bond than do female infants from CC genotype mothers. This finding may also indicate a more secure attachment in infants from CC genotype mothers. Unlike female infants, on average, the mother-infant relationship of dyads with a male infant was largely undifferentiated by maternal genotype. These findings suggest that, in contrast to female infants from CG mothers, CC mothers and their female infants appear to have a closer mother-infant relationship which may portend close life-long bonds, as mothers and female offspring remain together throughout life. Male offspring appear to have a more aloof mother-infant bond regardless of OPRM1-genotype. The results of this study indicate that maternal-OPRM1 variation mediates mother-infant attachment behaviors for female infants and has less effect for male infants. This suggests that offspring sex should be included in studies investigating the effect of maternal-OPRM1 genotype on the mother-infant attachment relationship.

Secure attachment in infancy predicts context-dependent emotion expression in middle childhood.

Attachment security has been linked to healthy socioemotional development, but less is known about how secure attachment in infancy relates to emotional functioning in middle childhood, particularly across multiple contexts. The present study examined associations between secure attachment in infancy and children's context-dependent emotion expression during a parent-child interaction at age 9 (N = 78) among families with Child Protective Services involvement (i.e., children at risk for emotion dysregulation). The results indicated that children classified as securely attached in infancy exhibited less task-incongruent affect (i.e., less positive affect during a distressing discussion, less negative affect during a positive discussion) and a greater decrease in negative affect from a distressing discussion to a positive discussion than children classified as insecurely attached. In addition, secure children were rated as more appropriate in their emotion expression than insecure children. The present study highlights attachment as a promising intervention target for children at risk for emotion dysregulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Disorganized attachment behaviors in infancy as predictors of brain morphology and peer rejection in late childhood.

Studies show robust links between disorganized attachment in infancy and socioemotional maladjustment in childhood. Little is known, however, about the links between disorganized attachment and brain development, and whether attachment-related differences in brain morphology translate into meaningful variations in child socioemotional functioning. This study examined the links between infants' disorganized attachment behaviors toward their mothers, whole-brain regional grey matter volume and thickness, and peer rejection in late childhood. Thirty-three children and their mothers took part in this study. The Strange Situation Procedure was used to assess mother-infant attachment when infants were 18 months old. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed when they were 10 years old to assess cortical thickness and grey matter volumes. Children and teachers reported on peer rejection 1 year later, as an indicator of socioemotional maladjustment. Results indicated that disorganized attachment was not associated with grey matter volumes. However, children who exhibited more disorganized attachment behaviors in infancy had significantly thicker cortices in bilateral middle and superior frontal gyri, and extending to theinferior frontal gyrus, as well as the orbitofrontal and insular cortices in the right hemisphere in late childhood. Moreover, children with thicker cortices in these regions experienced greater peer rejection, as rated by themselves and their teachers. Although preliminary, these results are the first to indicate that disorganized attachment may play a role in cortical thickness development and that changes in cortical thickness are associated with differences in child socioemotional functioning.

Still Mother after All These Years: Infants Still Prefer Mothers over Fathers (If They Have the Choice)

Fathering and mothering have changed in many ways within the last decades. Earlier studies showed a clear hierarchy in infant attachment figures with a preference for mothers. This study examined whether infants in the 21st century still prefer mothers over fathers in their expression of attachment behaviors, whether differences in parental involvement still exist, and whether this will result in differences in attachment security to mother and father. A total of 50 German families with infants between 10 and 19 months were observed in an experimental setting and during home visits. Parents reported on their involvement. The results revealed a clear hierarchy with regard to the duration of attachment behaviors directed towards mothers, followed by fathers and strangers. Mothers reported to be more involved in child care on weekdays compared to fathers. Involvement was not associated with attachment variables. Attachment security to mother and father was positively related and did not differ significantly. Infants in the 21st century in a Western country still prefer mothers over fathers in their expression of attachment behaviors. Mothers were more involved in child care than fathers. However, these differences did not result in differences in attachment security to mother and father.

From Early Micro-Temporal Interaction Patterns to Child Cortisol Levels: Toward the Role of Interactive Reparation and Infant Attachment in a Longitudinal Study.

Parental mental disorders increase the risk for insecure attachment in children. However, the quality of caregiver–infant interaction plays a key role in the development of infant attachment. Dyadic interaction is frequently investigated via global scales which are too rough to uncover micro-temporal mechanisms. Prior research found that the latency to reparation of uncoordinated dyadic states is associated with infant behavioral and neuroendocrine regulation. We investigated the hypothesis that this interactive mechanism is critical in predicting secure vs. insecure attachment quality in infancy. We also assessed the predictive quality of infant attachment regarding neuroendocrine reactivity later in childhood. A subsample of N = 58 dyads (n = 22 mothers with anxiety disorders, n = 36 controls) from a larger study were analyzed. At 3–8 months postpartum, maternal anxiety disorders were diagnosed via a structured clinical interview as well as dyadic interaction during the Face-to-Face-Still-Face (FFSF) was observed and coded on a micro-temporal scale. Infant attachment quality was assessed with the strange situation paradigm at 12–24 months of age. In an overlapping subsample of N = 39 (n = 13 mothers with anxiety disorder; n = 26 controls), we assessed child cortisol reactivity at 5 to 6 years of age. Generalized linear modeling revealed that longer latencies to interactive reparation during the reunion episode of the FFSF as well as maternal diagnosis at 3–8 months of age predict insecure attachment in children aged 12–24 months. Cox regressions demonstrated that dyads with infants who developed insecure attachment at 12–24 months of age were 48% less likely to achieve an interactive reparation at 3–8 months of age. Mixed models revealed that compared to securely attached children, children who had developed an insecure attachment at 12–24 months of age had an increased cortisol reactivity at 5 to 6 years of age during free play. The results confirm the hypothesis that the development of attachment is affected by experienced micro-temporal interactive patterns besides diagnostic categories. They also showed that infants of mothers with postpartum anxiety disorders have a more than fivefold increased risk of developing an insecure attachment than the infants of the control group. Moreover, results imply that these patterns may influence neurohormonal regulation even in preschool aged children.

Immunological and other biological correlates of the impact of antenatal depression on the mother-infant relationship

Antenatal depression affects up to 20% of pregnancies, yet research has historically focused on postnatal depression and its effects on mothers and their offspring. Studies are now emerging highlighting the impact that depression in pregnancy can also carry on both members of the dyad, including difficulties with psychological, physical, and social functioning. More specifically, researchers have begun to examine whether antenatal depression may lead to difficulties in the developing mother-infant relationship and subsequent infant attachment. While much of the research on this has explored psychosocial mechanisms behind the pathway from antenatal depression to a disrupted relationship in the postpartum, few studies have looked at biological underpinnings of this process. Of the literature that exists, it has been found that mothers with depression in pregnancy have lower levels of oxytocin and increased levels of inflammatory markers, plausibly creating difficulties in the mother-infant bonding process, leading to impaired mother-infant interactions and non-secure infant attachment. Furthermore, infants with non-secure attachments are at risk of entering a proinflammatory state due to a dysregulated stress response system. Overall, the literature on the neurobiology of mother-infant interactions and infant attachment in the context of antenatal depression is sparse, thus warranting future research.

Mother-infant relationship and its Predictors.

ObjectiveCreating attachment between mother and infant is an extremely sensitive process in the postpartum period. In this regard, understanding the predictive features of the mother-infant relationship (MIR) can help health care providers in designing and implementing MIR enhancement interventions. Therefore, we ran this study to determine the degree of attachment between mother and infant and its predictors.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study on 406 mothers referred to comprehensive healthcare centers in Rasht. We used the multi-stage cluster random sampling. Our data collection tools included: a data collection form to determine the predictors of maternal and infant attachment, which was designed by researchers and the standard MIRscale. The significance level of the test was considered less than 5%.ResultsThe mean MIR score was 12.7±8.1. The highest score of attachment between mother and infant was in the area of risk of infant harassment and the lowest score was in the field of the mother-infant bond. The results of the logistic regression test showed that the MIR scores were statistically significant with spouse age, spouse education, number of deliveries, and breastfeeding problems (p<0.05).ConclusionsThe findings showed that there was a significant relationship between MIR and spouse age, spouse education, number of deliveries, and breastfeeding problems. Therefore, attention to these issues should be considered in planning to improve the MIR.

Babaların Emzirme Sürecine Destek Olma Durumlarının, Annelerin Emzirme Öz Yeterlilikleri ve Baba Bebek Bağlanması Üzerindeki Etkisi: Kesitsel ve İlişki Arayıcı Bir Çalışma

Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of father's support to breastfeeding process on breastfeeding selfefficacy of mothers and attachment of father and infant. Material and Methods: The research is in cross-sectional type. The sample of the study consisted of 400 parents living in different cities in Türkiye (n=400). Online data collection forms that participants could apply themselves were created in the web and delivered to parents by using social media accounts, internet and social media sharing platforms about breastfeeding. Percentage, average, standard deviation, student t, one-way ANOVA (post hoc: Bonferroni), Pearson correlation tests were used for data analysis. Results: It was determined that 35.4% of mothers and 36.9% of fathers participated in the study. In the study, the mean breastfeeding self-efficacy score of the mothers was 55.30±9.28, the mean breastfeeding support score of the fathers was 131.42±28.69, and the mean father-baby attachment score was 75.11±9.41. It is observed that there is a highly positive, weak linear relationship between mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and fathers' understanding of breastfeeding, helping, valuing, readiness, sensitivity sub-dimensions, total score and median attachment scores (p<0.001). In this study, it was determined that fathers' support to breastfeeding effects mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy and father infant attachment positively (p<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that fathers' support for breastfeeding positively affected mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy and father-infant attachment. Health professionals should support fathers to provide them supporting their wifes for breastfeeding.

The Effect of the Spiritual Kangaroo Care Program on an Infant’s Physical Growth, Behavioral State and Maternal Infant Attachment

The Effect of the Spiritual Kangaroo Care Program on an Infant’s Physical Growth, Behavioral State and Maternal Infant Attachment

The contributions of maternal oxytocin and maternal sensitivity to infant attachment security

ABSTRACT This study investigated links between maternal postnatal oxytocin, maternal sensitivity, and infant attachment security. At 3-months postpartum, participants (n=88) took part in a structured parent-infant interaction. Maternal oxytocin levels were assessed via blood, before and after the interaction. At 12-months postpartum, mother-child dyads completed the Strange Situation Procedure. Neither baseline oxytocin, oxytocin response, or maternal sensitivity were identified as significant independent predictors of infant attachment security or organisation. However, an interaction effect was identified, with higher maternal sensitivity being associated with secure infant attachment for mothers who showed an increase in oxytocin during parent–child interaction. Results indicate that maternal sensitivity, when accompanied by an increase in maternal oxytocin during parent–child interaction, is associated with the establishment of a positive early parent–child attachment relationship. This adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting maternal oxytocin response as a key adaptive process in the postpartum period.

Socioeconomic status and infant nighttime sleep across the second year of life: The moderating role of infant attachment security.

This study examined socioeconomic status (SES) and attachment security as predictors of infant nighttime sleep during the second year. Participants included 128mothers (86% White) with infants (48.4% boys). Data collection took place between April, 2009 and February, 2014. At 12, 18, and 24months, infant sleep was assessed via actigraphy and daily diaries, and attachment with the Attachment Q-Set. SES indicators included income-to-needs ratios and education. Lower SES predicted greater variability in sleep duration and later sleep timing only for less secure infants. Less secure attachment was associated with poorer sleep at both between- and within-person levels, especially when infants were 12months of age. Results emphasize the complex interactive effects of environmental and relational factors on infant sleep.

Ancestral Selfies and Historical Traumas: Who Do You Feel You Are?

The potential for ‘historical trauma’ is deeply rooted within the evolved human mind, which constructs its reality through narrative in the shape of personally and culturally relevant stories. From its roots within psychoanalytic theory and practice and through its clear links with infant attachment, historical trauma can be theoretically linked with stress biology and the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Via this trajectory, it has the potential to become more commonly drawn upon in the field of public health, despite inconclusive attempts to link it to social epigenetics. It is proposed that when the historical trauma narrative invades family histories via negative experiences that have deeply impacted upon the lives of ancestors, descendants may be drawn to ‘traumatic reenactment’ through fantasy. This is explored with reference to my own recently published novel, examining its content through the perspective of the ‘psychic work’ it represents with respect to reconciling the self to the traumatic experiences of ancestors.

The expectant brain-pregnancy leads to changes in brain morphology in the early postpartum period.

There is growing evidence that pregnancy may have a significant impact on the maternal brain, causing changes in its structure. To investigate the patterns of these changes, we compared nulliparous women (n = 40) with a group of primiparous women (n = 40) and multiparous mothers (n = 37) within 1–4 days postpartum, using voxel-based and surface-based morphometry (SBM). Compared with the nulliparous women, the young mothers showed decreases in gray matter volume in the bilateral hippocampus/amygdala, the orbitofrontal/subgenual prefrontal area, the right superior temporal gyrus and insula, and the cerebellum. These pregnancy-related changes in brain structure did not predict the quality of mother–infant attachment at either 3 or 12 weeks postpartum nor were they more pronounced among the multiparous women. SBM analyses showed significant cortical thinning especially in the frontal and parietal cortices, with the parietal cortical thinning likely potentiated by multiple pregnancies. We conclude that, compared with the brain of nulliparous women, the maternal brain shows widespread morphological changes shortly after childbirth. Also, the experience of pregnancy alone may not be the underlying cause of the adaptations for mothering. As regards the exact biological function of the changes in brain morphology, longitudinal research will be needed to draw any definitive conclusions.

Prenatal predictors of childhood anxiety disorders: An exploratory study of the role of attachment organization.

Childhood anxiety disorders (CAD) are a common childhood mental disorder and understanding early developmental pathways is key to prevention and early intervention. What is not understood is whether early life stress predictors of CAD might be both mediated by infant cortisol reactivity and moderated by infant attachment status. To address this question, this exploratory study draws on 190 women recruited in early pregnancy and followed together with their children until 4 years of age. Early life stress is operationalized as maternal depression measured using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index, and antenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations. Infant cortisol reactivity was measured at 12 months together with the Strange Situation Procedure and CAD assessed at 4 years of age using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. There was no direct association between attachment classification and CAD. Furthermore, infant cortisol reactivity neither mediated nor attachment moderated the association of early life stress predictors and CAD. However, only for infants with organized attachment classifications, higher maternal antenatal depression, and hair cortisol were associated with a higher risk of CAD.

Enhancing Maternal-Infant Attachment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During the Pandemic Prevention Period

Parent-infant attachment is affected by parent-infant interaction. The limitations on related visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the opportunity to engage in kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) activities. These changes impacted parent-infant attachment in the neonatal intensive care unit. After investigation, the score of premature infant-parent attachment was found to be only 64.6 points during the period in which visitation limitations were in effect. To enhance maternal-premature infant attachment during the pandemic period by 10% (from an average score of 64.6 to 71.1). This project involved nurses playing audio files provided by mothers to their premature infants, and recording a video and taking pictures of the infants during this process. This project used a cloud platform as bidirectional pipelines. Furthermore, emotional support and caring information were provided to the mothers via expressive arts therapy and phone interviews. After the intervention, the premature infant-parent attachment score rose to 74.4 from the pre-intervention score of 64.6. During pandemic control periods, traditional modes of care aimed at building infant-parent attachment are not applicable. The intervention project used was found to be an effective alternative approach to increasing maternal-premature infant attachment. Breaking the restrictions of time and place, this project applies family-centered care, and may provide a reference for developing software, hardware, and communication equipment for other care units related to newborns.

Major depression as a predictor of the intergenerational transmission of attachment security: Findings from a pregnancy cohort study.

Understanding the relationship between attachment and mental health has an important role in informing management of perinatal mental disorders and for infant mental health. It has been suggested that experiences of attachment are transmitted from one generation to the next. Maternal sensitivity has been proposed as a mediator, although findings have not been as strong as hypothesised. A meta-analysis suggested that this intergenerational transmission of attachment may vary across populations with lower concordance between parent and infant attachment classifications in clinical compared to community samples. However, no previous study has examined major depression and adult attachment in pregnancy as predictors of infant-parent attachment classification at 12 months postpartum. Data were obtained on 52 first-time mothers recruited in early pregnancy, which included 22 women who met diagnostic criteria for current major depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The Adult Attachment Interview was also administered before 20 weeks of pregnancy. A history of early trauma was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and maternal sensitivity was measured at 6 months postpartum using the observational measure of the Emotional Availability Scales. Infant-parent attachment was measured using the Strange Situation Procedure at 12 months. Overall, we found no significant association between the Adult Attachment Interview and the Strange Situation Procedure classifications. However, a combination of maternal non-autonomous attachment on the Adult Attachment Interview and major depression was a significant predictor of insecure attachment on the Strange Situation Procedure. We did not find that maternal sensitivity mediated parental and infant attachment security in this sample. While previous meta-analyses identified lower concordance in clinical samples, our findings suggest women with major depression and non-autonomous attachment have a greater concordance with insecure attachment on the Strange Situation Procedure. These findings can guide future research and suggest a focus on depression in pregnancy may be important for subsequent infant attachment.