Maternal Affect Research Articles

Parenting styles and health in mid- and late life: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

BackgroundsThe impact of relationships in early childhood may be long-lasting and reaching to mid to late life. Limited studies have investigated the associations between parenting style and different aspects of well-being beyond adolescence. The current study aims to examine the association between parenting styles and multiple dimensions of functioning in mid-and later-life adults.MethodsWe used data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) was applied to examine the association between retrospective parenting styles/behaviors in childhood and health outcome.ResultsCompared with authoritative style, authoritarian style predicted worse self-rated health (coefficient = − 0.13, P < 0.001), cognitive function (− 0.23, P < 0.05) and depressive symptom (0.87, P < 0.001). Paternal affection was associated with more health outcome in mid- and late life than maternal affection. Only paternal affection was a significant predictor of mid- and late life health among male adults, while both paternal and maternal affection were strong predictors among female adults. Authoritative style was associated more positive health outcomes in mid- and late life among adults with literate parents than those with illiterate parents.ConclusionThis study provides evidence for the link between parenting behaviors in early life stage and physical and psychological functioning in mid- to late adulthood. Authoritative style, and the memory of parental affection, particularly from father and educated parents, could have long-lasting positive influence on children’s physical and mental well-being, which further support the life-course perspective on human development.

Interactive Contribution of Observed Mother-Youth Emotional Climate and Youth Physiology: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding Youth Coping With Peer Stress

We examined the prospective associations between two indicators of mother-youth emotional climate (i.e., maternal affect, dyadic cohesiveness) during a peer problem discussion and youth coping with peer stress following entry into middle school. We also investigated youth baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as a moderator of these associations given its role in physiological stress regulation. Participants were 100 mother-youth dyads (53% boys; Mage = 11.05 years; 43% ethnic minorities). More positive maternal affect at Time 1 (spring of 5th grade) was associated with more primary and secondary control engagement coping and advice-seeking at Time 2 (fall of 6th grade); greater dyadic cohesiveness was prospectively linked with more advice-seeking only. Further, the positive association between maternal affect and primary control coping was only evident for youth who showed lower (not higher) baseline RSA. We discuss implications for jointly considering the mother-youth relational context and youth physiological regulatory capacity towards understanding coping socialization.

Ontogeny of the Dyad: the Relationship Between Maternal and Offspring Neuroendocrine Function.

We review ontogeny of the maternal-offspring neuroendocrine relationship in human pregnancy. We present bidirectional genetic, physiological, and behavioral influences that enhance or disrupt HPA activity and its end product cortisol at the individual level and within the dyad. Consistent evidence supports that maternal mood and caregiving behavior are associated with maternal and offspring cortisol levels. Select studies support the buffering effects of antidepressant use and maternal positive affect on offspring cortisol. Growing research highlights evocative effects of fetalneuroendocrine activity, antenatalgene transfer, andinfantbehavioral distress and risk characteristics on maternal cortisol levels and dyadic attunement. There is potential to advance our understanding of the mother-offspring neuroendocrine relationship by consideration of other neuroactivesteroids in addition to cortisol, and to consider developmental timing and measurement source in study design. Future study should emphasize in what context or for whom neuroendocrine attunement is adaptive versus maladaptive for mother and child.

Maternal age and maternal environment affect egg composition, yolk testosterone, offspring growth and behaviour in laying hens

Maternal effects have been reported to alter offspring phenotype in laying hens. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal environment and maternal age on egg traits and offspring development and behaviour. For this, we ran two experiments. First (E1), commercial hybrid hens were reared either in aviary or barren brooding cages, then housed in aviary, conventional cages or furnished (enriched) cages, thus forming different maternal housing treatments. Hens from each treatment were inseminated at three ages, and measures of egg composition, yolk testosterone concentration and offspring’s development, anxiety and fearfulness were assessed. In experiment 2 (E2), maternal age effects on offspring's growth and behaviour were further investigated using fertile eggs from commercial breeder flocks at three different ages. Results from E1 showed that Old hens laid heavier eggs with less yolk testosterone and produced offspring with fewer indicators of anxiety and fearfulness. Maternal rearing and housing affected egg traits, offspring weight and behaviour, but not in a consistent way. Effects of maternal age were not replicated in E2, possibly due to differences in management or higher tolerance to maternal effects in commercial breeders. Overall, our research confirms that maternal age and maternal environment affects egg composition, with maternal age specifically affecting yolk testosterone concentration, which may mediate physical and behavioural effects in offspring.

Perinatal exposure to fluoxetine and maternal adversity affect myelin-related gene expression and epigenetic regulation in the corticolimbic circuit of juvenile rats.

Many pregnant women experience symptoms of depression, and are often treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, such as fluoxetine. In utero exposure to SSRIs and maternal depressive symptoms is associated with sex-specific effects on the brain and behavior. However, knowledge about the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these sex differences is limited. In addition, most animal research into developmental SSRI exposure neglects the influence of maternal adversity. Therefore, we used a rat model relevant to depression to investigate the molecular effects of perinatal fluoxetine exposure in male and female juvenile offspring. We performed RNA sequencing and targeted DNA methylation analyses on the prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala; key regions of the corticolimbic circuit. Perinatal fluoxetine enhanced myelin-related gene expression in the prefrontal cortex, while inhibiting it in the basolateral amygdala. SSRI exposure and maternal adversity interacted to affect expression of genes such as myelin-associated glycoprotein (Mag) and myelin basic protein (Mbp). We speculate that altered myelination reflects altered brain maturation. In addition, these effects are stronger in males than in females, resembling known behavioral outcomes. Finally, Mag and Mbp expression correlated with DNA methylation, highlighting epigenetic regulation as a potential mechanism for developmental fluoxetine-induced changes in myelination.

Examining the Relationship between Infant Weight Status and Parent-Infant Interactions within a Food and Nonfood Context.

Background: Most observational research examining factors in the home environment that contribute to child adiposity has focused on feeding and physical activity, although aspects of one's nonfood home environment such as parent-child interactions can also impact body weight. The main objectives of this study were to determine if parent-infant interactions under different contexts provide a unique contribution to infants' concurrent adiposity after accounting for known obesity-related covariates. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 121 9- to 15-month-old infants using data collected at the baseline visit of an ongoing intervention study. Mother-infant interactions during a feeding episode and a free-play task were recorded and coded. Anthropometrics of infants were measured by trained research staff. We used two-step hierarchical multivariable regression models to examine the unique contribution of mother-infant interactions to weight status after accounting for known obesity-related covariates (i.e., maternal age, BMI, education, parity, and gestational age, child sex, breastfeeding duration, age of solid food introduction, and birthweight). Results: Maternal intrusiveness, child negative affect, and child responsiveness during free-play, but not feeding were significantly associated with z-weight-for-length. For every 1-U increase in maternal intrusiveness and child negative affect there was a 0.321 (p = 0.011) and 0.415 (p = 0.028) unit increase in z-weight-for-length, respectively, whereas for every 1-U increase in child responsiveness there was a decrease of 0.386 U in z-weight-for-length (p = 0.025). Conclusion: This research contributes new findings support the idea that parent-child interactions outside of the feeding context may relate to obesity. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT02936284.

Associations Between Spousal Relationship, Husband Involvement, and Postpartum Depression Among Postpartum Mothers in West Java, Indonesia.

Introduction:Indonesia is actively promoting husband involvement in maternal health care, since it has been claimed to impact the wellbeing of mothers. This study aims to investigate the extent to which spousal relationship, husband involvement, and maternal health behavior affect postpartum depression among Indonesian mothers.Method:A survey was carried out among 336 postpartum mothers who received maternal care in 27 independent midwifery clinics in 7 regions of West Java Province, Indonesia. The measurement model of husband involvement comprising 4 dimensions, namely maternity care engagement, instrumental support, emotional support, and informational support were developed and validated using confirmatory factor analysis. The Quality of Marriage Index (QMI) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were also validated and used to measure spousal relationship and postpartum depressive symptoms. A structural equation model was specified to examine the association between spousal relationship, husband involvement, maternal healthy behavior, and postpartum depression.Results:The study confirms the assumption that the quality of the spousal relationship could determine husband’s involvement during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum (γ = .60, P < .001), eventually leading to better maternal healthy behavior (γ = .015, P < .001) and a decrease in postpartum depressive symptoms among mothers (γ = −.21, P < .001).Conclusions:The study results suggest the needs to promote comprehensive husband involvement to enhance the wellbeing of mothers. This can be achieved through couple interventions at the community level and the inclusion of a supportive role for husbands in the maternal and childcare guidebook offered during ANC visits.

INCIDENCE AND PREDICTORS OF MATERNALAND PERINATAL MORTALITY AMONG THE MATERNAL NEAR MISS CASES.

Worldwide about half a million women die as results of complications of pregnancy and childbirth.1 We have been impressed that the same obstetric conditions that kill mothers are also responsible for most of the stillbirths and many of the neonatal deaths as well.2 Maternal mortality is a vital index of the effectiveness of obstetric services prevailing in country. The study aims at identifying the Incidence and predictors of maternal and perinatal mortality among the maternal near miss cases. In our study we found that there were 204 cases of severe maternal affection with 26 cases (12.74%) of maternal mortality and 176 cases (86.27%) of perinatal mortality. We can conclude that our study helps in identifying the risk factors that has an effect on the health of both mother and baby

How a pregnant woman's relationships with her siblings relate to her mental health: a prenatal allocare perspective.

BackgroundIn cooperatively breeding species, individuals may promote their inclusive fitness through allomothering. Humans exhibit some features of cooperative breeding, and previous studies have focused on allomothering by grandparents and juvenile siblings in the postnatal period. We hypothesize that a pregnant woman’s relationships with her siblings (offspring’s maternal aunts and uncles) are beneficial for maternal affect in ways that can enhance the siblings’ inclusive fitness. Maternal affect during pregnancy is a salient target of allocare given the detrimental effects of antepartum mood disorders on birth and infant outcomes.MethodologyWe test our hypotheses in a cohort of pregnant Latina women in Southern California (N = 201). Predictor variables of interest include number of siblings a participant has, if she has sisters, frequency of seeing siblings, and frequency of communication with siblings. Outcome variables measuring maternal affect include depression, state anxiety, pregnancy-related anxiety and perceived stress.ResultsHaving at least one sister and greater frequency of communication with siblings were associated with fewer depressive symptoms during pregnancy. No significant associations were found between sibling variables and other measures of affect.Conclusion and implicationsResults suggest that how frequently you communicate with, and not how often you see, siblings could be protective against risk of antepartum depression. Sibling allomothering could impart effects through social–emotional support rather than instrumental support, as a strategy to benefit the prenatal environment in which future nieces and nephews develop. Allomothering may be particularly important in cultural contexts that value family relationships. Future studies should investigate other communities.

Parenting Style in Childhood and Mental Health Outcomes of Caregiving in Middle and Later Adulthood

Objectives. This study examined the association between remembered parenting style of both mothers and fathers in childhood and mental health outcomes of caregiving in middle and later adulthood. Methods. Data were from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, a national survey that included 7,108 participants aged 24 to 75 years at baseline. The sample analyzed in the current study included 244 MIDUS participants who had given personal care to their mothers or fathers for one month or more during the last 12 months in the second and third waves. Parenting style variables, which included maternal/paternal affection and maternal/paternal discipline, were from the first wave; mental health outcome variables, which included emotional distress, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction, were from the second and third waves. Multiple regression and multilevel modeling were applied using R. Results. Maternal affection was negatively associated with emotional distress. Paternal affection was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. The associations between maternal/paternal discipline and mental health outcomes were not significant. Among the caregivers who provided care for parents, those who had mothers with high affection in childhood experienced a lower level of emotional distress, those who had fathers with high affection experienced a lower level of depressive symptoms in middle and later adulthood. Discussion. Our findings have advanced the understanding of the long-term consequences of parenting style in childhood on mental health outcomes among family caregivers in later life. The results have implications in the development of interventions focusing on mental health outcomes among family caregivers.

Parenting Style in Childhood and Mental Health Outcomes of Caregiving in Middle and Later Adulthood

Objectives. This study examined the association between remembered parenting style of both mothers and fathers in childhood and mental health outcomes of caregiving in middle and later adulthood. Methods. Data were from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, a national survey that included 7,108 participants aged 24 to 75 years at baseline. The sample analyzed in the current study included 244 MIDUS participants who had given personal care to their mothers or fathers for one month or more during the last 12 months in the second and third waves. Parenting style variables, which included maternal/paternal affection and maternal/paternal discipline, were from the first wave; mental health outcome variables, which included emotional distress, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction, were from the second and third waves. Multiple regression and multilevel modeling were applied using R. Results. Maternal affection was negatively associated with emotional distress. Paternal affection was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. The associations between maternal/paternal discipline and mental health outcomes were not significant. Among the caregivers who provided care for parents, those who had mothers with high affection in childhood experienced a lower level of emotional distress, those who had fathers with high affection experienced a lower level of depressive symptoms in middle and later adulthood. Discussion. Our findings have advanced the understanding of the long-term consequences of parenting style in childhood on mental health outcomes among family caregivers in later life. The results have implications in the development of interventions focusing on mental health outcomes among family caregivers.

The role of maternal interactive behavior and gestational age in predicting infant affect during the Still-Face Paradigm

Background: Emotion regulation develops through bidirectional affective communication. Aim: To investigate the role of maternal interactive behavior in predicting infant affect among preterm versus full-term infants. Study Design: The association between maternal interactive behavior (contingent, attention seeking, watching) and infant affect during a modified Still Face (SF) paradigm in a sample of 22 preterm and 28 full term infants (3 ½ - 4 ½ months old) was investigated. Methods: Maternal behavior and infant affect were coded in one second intervals. Results: Maternal contingent interaction was positively correlated with positive infant affect (p < 0.001 for Play; p < 0.001 for Reunion#1; p < 0.01 for Reunion#2, respectively), with a stronger association during the second reunion for preterm infants (p < 0.001). In the preterm sample but not in the full-term sample, attention seeking maternal interaction at Play (baseline), Reunion#1, and Reunion#2 were all positively correlated with negative infant affect at Still Face#2. Maternal watching was negatively associated with positive infant affect for the full sample for both Reunion episodes (p < 0.05). Full term infants' negative affect increased from baseline to the first SF episode and then plateaued, whereas preterm infants demonstrated greater negative affect and less recovery throughout. Mothers of full-term infants showed increased contingent responding after the first SF stressor, while mothers of preterm infants did not (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Preterm infants may be more susceptible to both positive and negative maternal behaviors and mothers of full-term infants may be more responsive to infants' increased distress. Relationship-focused interventions addressing maternal behaviors may enhance positive emotionality and improve self-regulation in medically at-risk infants.

Mouldy Matriarchs and Dangerous Daughters

Mouldy Matriarchs and Dangerous Daughters

The Influence of Maternal Factors and Child Self-regulation on Peer Initiative: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Peer initiative refers to a child’s personal characteristic relevant to instigating play with peers, and it can be classified as friendly or unfriendly. This study used structural equation modeling to examine the contributions of mother’s coaching competence, parenting behavior, and child self-regulation to peer initiative. Participants comprised mothers of children aged 3 to 5 years (n = 343) in Korea and their teachers (n = 39). Structural equation modeling indicated that the relationship between mothers’ coaching competence and friendly peer initiative was fully mediated by maternal affection and child self-regulation. Furthermore, the relationship between mothers’ coaching competence and unfriendly peer initiative was partially mediated by maternal rejection and child self-regulation. These findings highlight the importance of children’s self-regulation for their social and adaptive development in a Korean cultural context and emphasize the need of maternal affection, which is reinforced by higher coaching competence, required for mothers. It is also worth noting that this study was conducted with a cultural group that collectivism and communality are highly valued.

Sustained social withdrawal behavior and 'difficult' temperament among infants, in relation to maternal affectivity in a low-income area of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Little is known about the relationship between maternal affectivity, social withdrawal and temperament in infants in low-income countries. The goal of the study was to assess the prevalence of social withdrawal behavior in infants aged 8 ± 2.3months and to explore associations between maternal affectivity during pregnancy and postpartum, infant social withdrawal (as a sign of stress) and 'difficult' temperament as assessed by the mothers. 458 mother-infant dyads were recruited in the city's public mother and child health-care centers. The eight items of the Alarm Distress Baby scale (8-ADBB) and the five-item M (modified) ADBB (M-ADBB) were used to assess sustained withdrawal behavior (ISSWB). The Goldberg Depression and Anxiety Scales were used to assess maternal affectivity and mental well-being. A specially designed questionnaire was used to identify stressful events faced by the mother during pregnancy. The ELDEQ-QCB was used to assess the degree of difficulty in managing the baby. Using the M-ADBB, we found a striking figure of 69.2% for ISSWB with 8-ABB (range 0-29) and 72.7% with the M-ADBB (range 0-10). ISSWB was linked to negative maternal affectivity and to high incidence of stressful events for the mothers, and to the child being viewed as 'difficult' by the mother. Positive prenatal affectivity was a protective factor of ISSWB (OR 0.46). Results are compared with previous studies in Africa. Early screening for ISSWB and identification of factors affecting maternal mental well-being could help in early intervention and increase the chances of better child development.

Infants' Selective Visual Attention Is Dependent on Maternal Affect and Emotional Context.

Development of selective attention during the first year of life is critical to cognitive and socio-emotional skills. It is also a period that the average child’s interactions with their mother dominate their social environment. This study examined how maternal negative affect and an emotion face prime (mother/stranger) jointly effect selective visual attention. Results from linear mixed-effects modeling showed that 9-month olds (N=70) were faster to find a visual search target after viewing a fearful face (regardless of familiarity) or their mother’s angry face. For mothers with high negative affect, infants’ attention was further impacted by fearful faces, resulting in faster search times. Face emotion interacted with mother’s negative affect, demonstrating a capacity to influence what infants attend in their environment.

Maternal age and maternal environment affect stress reactivity and measures of social behaviour in laying hens

Maternal effects can shape the phenotypes of offspring, but the extent to which a layer breeder’s experience can affect commercial laying hens remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of maternal age and maternal environment on laying hens’ behaviour and stress response. In our first experiment (E1), commercial hybrid hens were reared either in aviary or barren brooding cages, then housed in aviary, conventional cages or furnished (enriched) cages, thus forming different maternal housing treatments. Hens from each treatment were inseminated at three ages, and measures of response to manual restraint and social stress were assessed in offspring. In experiment 2 (E2), maternal age effects on offsprings' stress response were further investigated using fertile eggs from commercial breeder flocks at three ages. In E1, maternal age affected struggling and corticosterone during manual restraint, feather pecking and pulling and comb wounds. Additionally, maternal rearing and housing in aviary systems showed positive effects on measures of behaviour and stress response in offspring. Effects of maternal age were not replicated in E2, possibly due to methodological differences or higher tolerance to maternal effects in commercial breeders. Overall, we recommend researchers report parent stock age to increase comparison across studies and thus our understanding of maternal age effects.

How does food insecurity and maternal depression affect childhood behavior?

Pandit, Maya MPH, MD; Sothilingam, Arisheniah MD; Ramirez, Camila MD; McAteer, Rebecca MD Author Information

Association Between Maternal Mood State and Glycemic Response to a Mixed-Meal Among Latina Pregnant Women With Overweight and Obesity

ObjectivesTo investigate if maternal positive and negative affect state is associated with the glucose and insulin response to a standardized breakfast shake among Latina pregnant women with overweight and obesity. MethodsN = 31 non-diabetic Latina pregnant women, at gestational age 28–30 weeks, with a pre-pregnancy BMI 25–35 Kg/m2 consumed a standardized breakfast shake in the morning after an overnight fast of at least 10 hours. The Positive and Negative Affect Scale was completed while consuming the drink. Blood samples collected at fasting and 6 postprandial time points (15, 30, 45, 60, 90,120 mins) were assayed for glucose and insulin and values were log-transformed for normality. The area-under-the-curve (AUC) for glucose, insulin, glucose: insulin ratio were computed as well as the Matsuda index of insulin sensitivity (SI). ResultsThe median (IQR) values for positive and negative affect scores were 33 (27–40) and 11 (10–14) respectively. Categorizing the affect scores as high or low based on the median value, the mean AUC for glucose, insulin, and SI did not differ according to affect state (p > 0.05). However, women with a lower positive affect score had lower insulin AUC (F-1.2, p = 0.063), and consequently, a greater AUCglucose: insulin (F = 3.9, p = 0.007), which persisted after adjustment for maternal age, gestational age and BMI. A post-hoc analysis revealed significantly higher glucose: insulin ratio values at fasting (F = 0.58, p = 0.013) and 15min (F = 10.37, p = 0/008) and 60min (F = 2.65, p = 0.021) postprandial timepoints in those with low vs high positive affect. No differences in the glucose/insulin ratio were detected across levels of negative affect. ConclusionsContrary to expectations, higher positive affect in late pregnancy (i.e., more positive mood state) was associated with a less favorable postprandial insulin response in this cohort, contributing to a higher ratio of glucose: insulin, which is a sensitive predictor of insulin resistance. There is potential for unmeasured confounding which may have contributed to this unexpected direction of association between maternal affect state and insulin response in pregnant Latina women, which deserves further attention in future research. Funding SourcesNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Prospective association between maternal bonding disorders and child toothbrushing frequency: A cross-sectional study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Daily toothbrushing prevents early childhood caries, but reinforcement depends on facilitative parenting behaviours. Mother-to-infant bonding, the maternal affection towards the infant, is an environmental factor that strongly influences parenting. This study examined the association between maternal bonding and children's daily toothbrushing frequency. The sample consisted of 83954 mother-infant pairs at two years postpartum, derived from the initial sample of JECS (cohort study), which included 104062 foetuses. Maternal bonding disorders were assessed using the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS). After multiple imputation for missing data, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustments for several maternal (eg, age at delivery) and child-related (eg, self-performed toothbrushing) variables. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the association of maternal bonding disorders with the low (once per day) and the very low child toothbrushing frequency (<1 per day) was 1.12 (1.07-1.17) and 1.23 (0.91-1.66), respectively, after covariate adjustments. Furthermore, the univariate general linear model showed that the mean MIBS scores significantly decreased as the daily child toothbrushing frequency increased. The prevalence of maternal bonding disorders at one year postpartum was prospectively associated with a lower frequency of child toothbrushing at two years of age.