Infant Relationship Research Articles

Effects of parenting interventions for mothers with depressive symptoms and an infant: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Postpartum depression is common in the perinatal period and poses a risk for the development of the infant and the mother-infant relationship. Infancy is a critical developmental period of life and supportive parenting is crucial for healthy development, however, the effects of interventions aimed at improving parenting among mothers with depression are uncertain. To assess the effects of parenting interventions on parent-child relationship and child development among mothers with depressive symptoms with 0-12-month-old infants. We conducted a systematic review with the inclusion criteria: (a) randomised controlled trials of structured psychosocial parenting interventions for women with depressive symptoms and a child aged 0-12 months in Western Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, (b) minimum three sessions with at least half of these delivered postnatally and (c) outcomes relating to the parent-child-relationship and/or child development. Publications were extracted from 10 databases in September 2018 and supplemented with grey search and hand search. We assessed risk of bias, calculated effect sizes and conducted meta-analysis. Eight papers representing seven trials were included. We conducted meta-analysis on the post-intervention parent-child relationship. The analysis included six studies and showed no significant effect. For individual study outcomes, no significant effects on the majority of both the parent-child relationship and child development outcomes were reported. No evidence of the effect of parenting interventions for mothers with depressive symptoms was found on the parent-child relationship and child development. Larger studies with follow-up assessments are needed, and future reviews should examine the effects in non-Western countries.

Listening to the patient: A perspective from narrative medicine.

In this article, an attempt is made to synthesize some insights drawn from the fields of narrative medicine and psychoanalysis regarding the caregiver–patient relationship. All experiences of care are viewed as having their root in the original parent–infant relationships, which take places in a complex matrix of empathic attunement and minutely engaged attention to the body and communications of the other. It is suggested that the Buddhist practice of upaya is a useful analogy for the kind of open attunement that is to be aspired to in relations of care, and how such an analogous framework may be helpful to clinicians in attending, thinking and feeling toward their patients.

Thinking about you baby: Expectant parents’ narratives suggest prenatal spillover for fathers.

The coherence of parents' narratives about their children, which is the extent to which descriptions are accepting, consistent and complex, are thought to reflect optimal information processing of interpersonal relations and as such facilitate sensitive and responsive parenting. However, despite recent meta-analytic findings that have demonstrated links between the nature of prenatal thoughts and feelings about the unborn infant and later parenting, studies have yet to examine the narrative coherence of expectant parents' descriptions of their infant and future parent-child relationship. This study reports on the novel use of the 5-minute speech sample to capture variation in the coherence of 400 first-time expectant parents' narratives describing their unborn infant and future relationship with them. On average, both expectant mothers and fathers struggled to provide a coherent description of their unborn infant. Coherence ratings did not show within-couple associations and were not related to either demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms or mode of conception (e.g., use of assisted reproductive technologies). An actor-partner interdependence model did however demonstrate that reduced couple relationship quality and life satisfaction were associated with lower levels of narrative coherence in fathers, but not mothers. Model constraints illustrated the coherence of expectant fathers' narratives about their infant and future parent-child relationship may be particularly vulnerable to the influence of the couple relationship. Future longitudinal work is needed to establish the direction of this effect, to explore the stability of narrative coherence across the transition to parenthood and to study links with postnatal parent-child interaction quality and child outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Self-efficacy in abused and neglected pregnant women: attachment theory and theory of mind perspectives

ABSTRACT Traumatic experiences in childhood shape victims’ working models of themselves and others. Disrupted working models due to childhood abuse and neglect (CAN) mediates poor behavioural outcomes in adulthood. Pregnancy is a period that requires mothers to adopt their new roles and activates the aforementioned working models. Hence, the relationships between CAN history and attachment, and the theory of mind and parental self-efficacy were investigated. Two-hundred and eighty-three physically healthy pregnant women, with mean age of 28.72 (SD = 5.59), participated in the study voluntarily. CAN, attachment styles, perceived maternal self-efficacy and theory of mind were evaluated. One hundred and three women (36.4%) were categorized as abused. The abused group had significantly higher scores for preoccupied and indifferent attachment types. The preoccupied attachment score had negative correlation with achievement in theory of mind test. The non-abused group’s perceived self-efficacy in parenting skills and in the baby’s emotion dimensions were better than the abused group. Number of children, total abuse score and secure attachment score had effect on maternal self-efficacy score. Parents’ negative experiences may have a relationship with their parental roles. Understanding of the attachment patterns and related factors may play an important role in strengthening the parent–infant relationship.

Development and initial reliability and validity of a new measure of distorted maternal representations: The Mother-Infant Relationship Scale.

Distorted maternal representations (DMRs)-mother's ideas, understanding, and feelings about the infant-shape early interaction and the emerging relationship. Distorted interactions reportedly affect infant attachment and socioemotional development and may be associated with maternal early adversity and trauma. Limited measures are available that could be used as screening tools of DMRs. The aims of this study were to (a) describe the development of the Mother-Infant Relationship Scale (MIRS) and (b) to evaluate its psychometric properties. The development and validation of the MIRS closely followed standard guidelines for the development of psychometric tests. Psychometric properties were examined across two samples: 78 adult psychiatric patients with features of borderline personality and 86 individuals from a nonclinical sample (N=164). The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α=.91) for the clinical sample and adequate internal consistency (.78) for the nonclinical sample, excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=.81), and good concurrent validity with an observational (Pearson's correlation coefficients=-.35 to -.54) and a representational measure (.53). Factor analysis revealed three components: DMRs specific to (a) maternal hostility/rejection of the infant, (b) issues about parenting/attachment, and (c) anxiety/helplessness about infant care. Findings suggest that the MIRS is a reliable and valid screening tool of DMRs. Potential uses in clinical and research settings are discussed.

Developmental cascades of social inhibition and friendships in preterm and full‐term children

AbstractFriendships are crucial to children's socioemotional development and quality of life. Children born preterm (<37 weeks gestation) have an increased risk for social relationship difficulties, including fewer friends, but the mechanisms underlying the link between lower gestational age and fewer friendships are not clear. The prospective Bavarian Longitudinal Study investigated potential cascading effects on N = 1,181 children's friendships at 8 years. Path modelling indicated that higher gestational age predicted good early parent–infant relationship quality, good inhibitory control, and higher friendship scores. Good parent–infant relationship quality predicted good inhibitory control, which subsequently predicted low social inhibition at 6 years and higher friendship scores at 8 years. There is evidence of cascading effects from gestational age to early parent–infant relationships, to toddlers' inhibitory control, and to social inhibition, which partially explain differences in children's friendships at 8 years of age.Highlights Preterm children are at risk for social problems and fewer friends, but the mechanisms underlying this risk are not known. Path modelling showed that gestational age predicted good early parent–infant relationship and inhibitory control, which subsequently predicted low social inhibition and higher friendship scores. Cascading effects from gestational age to parent–infant relationships, to inhibitory control, and to social inhibition partially explain differences in friendships at 8 years.

Lateral position preference in grazing feral horses

AbstractBehavioural lateralisation is an effective way for animals to manage daily tasks by specialising behaviour to either side of the body. Many types of lateralisation are linked to the function of each brain hemisphere. Lateralisation of monitoring behaviour in mother–infant relationships occurs in a wide range of mammals, where infants frequently use their left eye to monitor their mother. However, few studies have focused on this type of spatial relationships among adults in daily life, such as during foraging. The present study focused on monitoring adult feral horse behaviour using quantitative analysis of spatial relationships, using drone technology. We found that horses form a localised spatial relationship with their nearest neighbour. Specifically, the nearest neighbour was located to the left rear of a target individual significantly more frequently than to the right rear. Furthermore, the nearest neighbour was less frequently located behind a target individual. We propose that this relationship is caused by a left‐eye preference, because information via the left eye predominantly proceeds to the right hemisphere, which is dominant for social processing.

Relative effects of breastfeeding intention and practice on maternal responsiveness.

ABSTRACTOur objective was to examine the differential effects of antenatal breastfeeding intention (BI) and breastfeeding practice (BP) on maternal postnatal responsiveness. We conducted a secondary analysis of longitudinal data from a subsample of 962 mother–infant dyads from a U.K.‐based birth cohort study the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Exposures were BI and BPs measured at 32 weeks of gestation and 18 months’ postpartum. The outcome was maternal responsiveness assessed at 12 months’ postpartum. We used logistic regression analyses unadjusted and adjusted for confounders. Intention to breastfeed was associated with increased odds of postnatal maternal responsiveness independent of BP, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.34, 95% CI [1.42, 3.86]. There was no evidence that BP was an independent predictor of maternal responsiveness, OR = 0.93, 95% CI [0.55, 1.57]. Life‐course epidemiology analyses demonstrated that maternal responsiveness is most positive when both BI and BP are present. This is the first population‐based study to provide evidence that BI during pregnancy is more strongly associated with maternal postnatal responsiveness than is BP. Further research is needed to understand the determinants of BI in pregnancy and its relationships with maternal responsiveness.

Associations between prenatal maternal mental health indices and mother-infant relationship quality 6 to 18 months' postpartum: A systematic review.

Maternal mental disorders can significantly impact on children's psychosocial and psychological development, incurring substantial ongoing economic and personal costs. A key mediating mechanism is mother-infant relationship quality (MIRQ). Research studies and perinatal mental health screening initiatives have predominantly focused on depressive symptoms and perinatal depression as predictors of MIRQ. While maternal depression is associated with suboptimal MIRQ, the findings have not been consistent. Personality characteristics are associated with parenting and proneness to depression, presenting a potential addition to prenatal mental health assessment. We conducted a systematic review of studies that have examined the link between prenatal depressive symptoms and/or personality characteristics with postnatal MIRQ. Our findings suggest that both maternal personality traits and depressive symptoms measured in early pregnancy are associated with postnatal MIRQ. A measure of personality characteristics may enhance prenatal mental health assessment, affording opportunities for targeted intervention commencing in pregnancy to improve MIRQ, parenting, maternal mental health outcomes, and infant psychosocial and psychological development, and thereby contributing to the reduction of human and economic cost burdens.

“Old Church Women”: An Insight into the Less Understood and Their Contribution to the Life of the Orthodox Church

In this study, I aim to explore the role of old women in the life of the Christian Orthodox Church in the Romanian space. The analysis is based on empirical evidence (qualitative fieldwork and case studies) gathered between 2017 and 2019, and it mainly employs the framework of theory of tradition, and theories of attachment and of parent–infant relationship. I will show that old women going to church have a double role: To educate the community in keeping the religious tradition, and to initiate other members, especially the very young ones (blood-related or not), in the Romanian Orthodox faith. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages offered by both aforementioned roles, putting forth possible explanations for the tensions arising between generations. I conclude by underlining the crucial role that old women have in today’s struggle for survival of the Romanian Orthodox Church and in its spiritual identity.

Beyond the hermeneutic/scientific controversy: A case for a clinically sensitive empirical research paradigm in psychoanalysis

ABSTRACTThis article is devoted to the topic of the conditions for a constructive interdisciplinary dialogue between psychoanalytic theory and practice and research in mind disciplines neighbouring psychoanalysis applied to the concept of psychoanalytic process. The first section reviews the contemporary controversy about psychoanalysis and research and the contributions that different disciplines—such as empirical research in progress in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, in attachment and the early mother–infant relationship, and neurosciences—propose for the construction of theory in psychoanalysis. The gaps in the scientific investigation of central aspects of the psychoanalytic conception are highlighted, such as the dyadic nature of the construction of the experience in therapy and the relationship between the implicit and explicit levels of the analytic relationship. The article concludes by laying the foundations for a novel research programme for psychoanalysis that addresses the outstanding gaps.

Mother–infant relationships mediated by singing.

Mother–infant relationships mediated by singing.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms, intrusive thoughts and depressive symptoms: a longitudinal study examining relation to maternal responsiveness

ABSTRACT Background The postpartum period is a vulnerable time for the development of depression. While perinatal depression has been well studied, intrusive thoughts related to the infant and classic obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms (e.g. chequering, ordering and cleaning) are also common in the postpartum and less well understood. Objective The present study investigated the associations among depressive symptoms, intrusive thoughts, and OC symptoms and their relation to the quality of the mother–infant relationship, particularly in the realm of maternal responsiveness. Methods Participants (N = 228) were recruited after delivery from a large Midwestern academic medical centre. At 2 and 12-week postpartum, participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed demographics, depressive and OC symptoms, postpartum-specific intrusive thoughts and accompanying neutralising strategies, and maternal responsiveness. Results At 12-week postpartum, maternal responsiveness was significantly lower for participants that endorsed intrusive thoughts, neutralising strategies or OC symptoms of clinical significance. More severe intrusive thoughts and neutralising strategies were associated with maternal responsiveness but not predictive after accounting for depressive symptoms; depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of maternal responsiveness across the postpartum. Conclusions A sizable number of postpartum women experience clinically significant postpartum-specific intrusive thoughts and utilise neutralising strategies, especially in the context of postpartum depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms have the most influence on maternal responsiveness but it is also important to target intrusive thoughts and OC symptoms in the context of postpartum depression to promote the welfare of new mothers and their offspring.

Effects of Gestational Age and Early Parenting on Children's Social Inhibition at 6 Years.

Preterm birth (<37 weeks’ gestation) has been associated with problems in social functioning. Whether social inhibition is specifically related to preterm birth and whether early parenting may protect against social inhibition difficulties is unknown. To explore effects of gestational age and early parent–infant relationships on social inhibition, 1314 children born at 26–41 weeks gestational age were studied as part of the prospective Bavarian Longitudinal Study. Early parent–infant relationship quality was assessed postnatally with the parent–infant relationship index. Social inhibition was assessed at age 6 years using an experimental procedure, in which nonverbal and verbal responses were coded into social inhibition categories (disinhibited, normally responsive, inhibited). Multinomial logistic regressions indicated that children with lower gestational age showed more socially disinhibited (nonverbal: OR = 1.27 [95% CI = 1.17–1.40], verbal: OR = 1.23 [95% CI 1.13–1.35]) and inhibited (nonverbal: OR = 1.21 [95% CI = 1.11–1.32], verbal: OR = 1.11 [95% CI = 1.01–1.21]) responses. Good early parent–infant relationships were associated with less verbal disinhibition (OR = 0.70 [95% CI = 0.52–0.93]). Findings suggest that children with lower gestational age are at greater risk to be both socially inhibited and disinhibited. Early parenting affected risk of abnormal social responses. Supporting early parent–infant relationships may reduce preterm children’s risk for social difficulties.

Antenatal interpersonal sensitivity as an early predictor of vulnerable mother-infant relationship quality.

Maternal mental health problems in the perinatal period incur significant human and economic costs attributable to adverse child outcomes. In response, governments invest in screening for perinatal depressive symptoms. Mother-infant relationship quality (MIRQ) is a key mechanism linking maternal perinatal mental health to child outcomes. Perinatal depressive symptoms are typically transient while personality style, including interpersonal sensitivity, is a more stable construct. We have demonstrated that antenatal interpersonal sensitivity independently predicted MIRQ at 12 months postpartum. Building on our previous work, the objective of this study was to examine the associations of antenatal interpersonal sensitivity and depressive symptoms with MIRQ 1 year postnatal. A sample of 73 women attending routine antenatal care, 61 (84%) from ethnically diverse populations, were studied across the perinatal period. At ⩽26 weeks, gestation interpersonal sensitivity and depressive symptoms were measured. At 12 months, postnatal mental health and MIRQ was assessed in 35 of the mother-infant dyads. We found no significant statistical association between antenatal interpersonal sensitivity and depressive symptoms with postnatal MIRQ. Interpersonal sensitivity (r = -.24) showed weak association with MIRQ. Depressive symptom scores were not associated (r =-.01). Maternal sensitivity assessment (MIRQ) using the CARE-Index identified low mean scores signifying low levels of maternal sensitivity (potential range 0-14; mean score = 6.3). We cautiously suggest that the findings raise questions about the presentation and assessment of perinatal mental health status among ethnically diverse populations and scoping of parenting support needs within this population.

Use of the Newborn Behavioral Observation System to Promote Healthy Relationships Between Parents and Neonates

To facilitate understanding of a newborn’s unique “voice,” thus nurturing awareness of newborns’ abilities and stimulating the development of positive relationships with parents and caregivers, starting at birth. Some parents are attuned to their newborn’s cues whereas others seem overwhelmed and unsure of what their newborn’s behavior means. To implement a formal system to help parents identify and respond to their newborn’s needs. A local pediatrician approached staff about the Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO) system and encouraged us to implement the NBO at our hospital. On the basis of work by the physician T. Berry Brazelton, the NBO was developed as a tool to help parents learn about their infants’ specific behaviors and methods of communicating to promote healthy parent–infant relationships. Staff, including pediatricians, attended a 2-day workshop to learn the theoretical framework, current research on the parent–infant relationship, neurobehavioral development, and strategies to implement the NBO in practice. After implementation began, the nurses videotaped interactions to identify teachable moments and reflect on practice and opportunities for improvement. One of our early barriers was feeling that the NBO was another task, but we quickly became adept at incorporating it into routine care. Follow up included gathering feedback from the parents before discharge and again during a postpartum phone call. Since implementation, we have seen a transformation in parent–newborn relationships. Our qualitative data, elicited through postpartum interviews, reveal that parents were more comfortable and confident when leaving the hospital. Parents verbalized a positive experience and amazement at what their newborn could “say.” Staff members are writing case studies and have become certified in NBO or are in progress of becoming certified. Early and healthy bonding has long-term effects on a newborn’s social and emotional well being. Nurses have the opportunity to facilitate these positive relationships. The NBO system is a valuable addition to care and supports our commitment to relationship-based care. It is a vehicle that empowers parents and allows us to shift the focus from nurse to parent as the expert of their newborn. The NBO should be a standard of care so all families can reap the benefits of improved bonding.

Influence of Pre-Weaning Social Isolation on Post-Weaning Emotion Tendency and Mother–Infant Interactions in Infant Octodon Degus

Our previous research using Octodon degus (degus) revealed that preweaning social isolation negatively affected object exploratory behavior. However, it remains unknown how social isolation affects animal psychology and other behaviors. The present study examined the effects of neonatal social isolation on degu emotion and mother–infant interactions before and after weaning. Because degus have a complex social repertoire, we predicted that they would be sensitive to social isolation and show similarities with humans in their social interaction. Pups in the isolation group were separated from their family seven times for 30 min a day from 8 to 15 days post-birth. Pups in the nonisolation group were reared with their family. At 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks of age, pups underwent a zero-maze test to measure anxiety and a mother–infant interaction test to assess mother–infant attachment. Isolated pups showed more activity in the zero-maze test than nonisolated pups at 3 weeks of age. We found no significant effects of social isolation on mother–infant interactions. These results suggest that while neonatal social isolation might affect emotion during weaning, it does not influence mother–infant relationships.

Not just about food: attachments representations and maternal feeding practices in infancy

ABSTRACT The present study examined maternal attachment contributions on infant feeding behavior. Feeding is central for the development of the caregiver–infant relationship with lasting effects for children’s health and self-regulation. Caregivers need to be attuned during feeding, so caregivers’ attachment likely influences their feeding practices. While pregnant, 116 mothers were administered the Adult Attachment Interview. They completed an assessment of infant temperament at 6 weeks. At 8 months, mother–infant dyads were videotaped during feeding and mothers completed a depression assessment. Mothers classified as preoccupied showed higher levels of feeding conflict and control and less dyadic reciprocity compared with dismissing or secure. Regression analyses revealed that both involving anger and passivity predicted control. Maternal depression moderated the effect that both involving anger and passivity had on control. Maternal unresolved trauma increased the risk that mother–infant dyads showed controlling behaviors during feeding, though was not related to conflict or attunement.

Joint observation in NICU (JOIN): study protocol of a clinical randomised controlled trial examining an early intervention during preterm care

IntroductionPreterm birth may generate significant distress among the parents, who often present with difficulties in appropriating their parental role. Parental stress and low perceived parental self-efficacy may interfere with the...

The voice and overtone singing, relationship tools

The first vocal exchanges between parents and baby constitute the backdrop to the development of the infant's relationship with his or her environment. Between fusion and separation, in adolescence, these issues are reactivated when teenagers' voices deepen, leaving them searching for their identity and the proper subjective distance to maintain with the initial objects of attachment. From self to self and from self to other, overtone singing therapy constitutes an essential tool.