Maternal Separation Anxiety Research Articles

I don't want to leave my child: How mothers and fathers affect mother's breastfeeding duration and leave length

AbstractAfter the birth of a child, employed mothers must make return‐to‐work and breastfeeding decisions. Prior organizational research focuses on how the mother's work environment affects these decisions, yet they are made with personal and relationship considerations in mind. We use the work‐home resources model and identity theory to address two pressing questions. First, do mothers' identity and fathers' paternity leave provide resources for supporting breastfeeding and return to work? Second, can mothers' separation anxiety help explain the psychological mechanisms for this process? We expect more work‐centric mothers and those whose partners take longer leaves to have lower maternal separation anxiety, and thereby shorter maternity leave length and shorter breastfeeding duration. We leverage the National Institute of Child Health and Development's Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. We conducted analyses using data from 491 families and nine time points from childbirth to 3 years post birth. Consistent with the work‐home resources model, the father's leave length is negatively related to mother's separation anxiety, which is positively related to her leave length. We also found that the father's leave length is directly and positively related to mother's leave length and breastfeeding duration, and the mother's work centrality is negatively related to her leave length. We explain how these results fit into the work‐home resources model and suggest organizations should provide mothers with control over return‐to‐work decisions and encourage longer paternity leave.

Multi-strain Probiotic Formulation Reverses Maternal Separation and Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Generated Anxiety- and Depression-like Phenotypes by Modulating Gut Microbiome-Brain Activity in Rats.

Depression is a debilitating mental disorder that affects >322 million people worldwide. Despite the availability of several antidepressant agents, many patients remain treatment refractory. A growing literature study has indicated the role of gut microbiota in neuropsychiatric disorders. Herein, we examined the psychobiotic-like activity of multi-strain probiotic formulation in maternal separation (MS) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) models of anxiety- and depression-like phenotypes in Sprague-Dawley rats. Early- and late-life stress was employed in both male and female rats by exposing them to MS and CUMS. The multi-strain probiotic formulation (Cognisol) containing Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2, Lactobacillus plantarum UBLP-40, Lactobacillus rhamnosus UBLR-58, Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70, Bifidobacterium breve UBBr-01, and Bifidobacterium infantis UBBI-01 at a total strength of 10 billion cfu along with l-glutamine was administered for 6 weeks via drinking water. Neurobehavioral assessment was done using the forced swim test (FST), sucrose preference test (SPT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and open field test (OFT). Animals were sacrificed after behavioral assessment, and blood, brain, and intestine samples were collected to analyze the levels of cytokines, metabolites, and neurotransmitters and histology. Animals exposed to stress showed increased passivity, consumed less sucrose solution, and minimally explored the open arms in the FST, SPT, and EPM, respectively. Administration of multi-strain probiotics along with l-glutamine for 6 weeks ameliorated the behavioral abnormalities. The locomotor activity of animals in the OFT and their body weight remained unchanged across the groups. Cognisol treatment reversed the decreased BDNF and serotonin levels and increased CRP, TNF-α, and dopamine levels in the hippocampus and/or frontal cortex. Administration of Cognisol also restored the plasma levels of l-tryptophan, l-kynurenine, kynurenic-acid, and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid; the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroides ratio; the levels of acetate, propionate, and butyrate in fecal samples; the villi/crypt ratio; and the goblet cell count, which manifested in the restoration of intestinal functions. We suggest that the multi-strain probiotic and glutamine formulation (Cognisol) ameliorated the MS + UCMS-generated anxiety- and depression-like phenotypes by reshaping the gut microbiome-brain activity in both sexes.

Parental Psychological Control: Maternal, Adolescent, and Contextual Predictors.

Parental psychological control (PC) hinders the development of autonomy, identity formation, and the attainment of self-determination and individuation of adolescents. The aim of this study was to deepen the understanding of which conditions increase the risk of the use of maternal PC by simultaneously considering the contribution of adolescent temperament, maternal separation anxiety, and adolescents’ perception of interparental conflict. A correlational study involving a sample of 106 Chilean adolescent-mother dyads was done. Adolescents were, on average, 15.42 years old (SD = 1.09) and 77% male. Mothers were, on average, 45.46 years old (SD = 6.39). We administered self-report questionnaires to the adolescent measuring effortful control and frustration as temperamental dimensions, along with the perception of interparental conflict. Mothers reported on their separation anxiety. Both the adolescents and their mothers reported on the use of maternal PC. Adolescents reported higher levels of maternal PC than their mothers did. All predictors were associated with PC reports. Higher levels of maternal anxiety about adolescent distancing, inter-parental conflict, and adolescent frustration were associated with higher reported levels of PC. In contrast, higher levels of adolescent effortful control were associated with lower levels of maternal PC. Finally, when maternal separation anxiety and inter-parental conflict were high there was a higher use of maternal PC. The present findings inform on how adolescent’s self-regulatory skills could reduce the risk of being exposed to maternal PC. And highlight the importance of using a systemic and interactional conceptualization when trying to understand their use.

Examining the Factorial Structure of the Maternal Separation Anxiety Scale in a Portuguese Sample.

The increase in women’s labor market participation emphasizes the importance of understanding maternal separation anxiety, that is, the unpleasant maternal emotional state, due to the actual or anticipated short-term separation from the child. Drawing on the insights of the attachment and psychoanalytic perspectives, the Maternal Separation Anxiety Scale (MSAS) was developed to overcome existing measurement gaps. However, prior research did not replicate its original three-factor structure in the contemporary context and in other cultural settings, using large samples composed of mothers of preschool children. This study aimed to examine the factorial structure of the MSAS in a sample of 597 Portuguese mothers of children aged 5–84 months who completed the questionnaire. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) conducted in subsample 1 revealed a four-factor structure: Maternal Negative Feelings, Beliefs about Exclusive Maternal Care, Need of Proximity, and Perceptions of Separation Benefits for Children. Confirmatory factor analyses conducted in subsample 2 revealed that the original three-factor structure revealed a poor fit, whereas the four-factor solution (obtained in the EFA) revealed an acceptable fit. As in previous studies, our findings report deviations from the original three-factor structure of the MSAS. Three of the newly identified factors seem to reflect specific sub-dimensions that originally guided item development in the MSAS, namely, maternal negative feelings, maternal attitudes about the value of exclusive maternal care, and the need of proximity with the child. The last factor appears to represent a refinement of original items pertaining to perceptions about separation effects for children.

Effects of Maternal Differentiation of Self, Maternal Separation Anxiety and Overprotective Parenting on Children’s Separation Anxiety

Effects of Maternal Differentiation of Self, Maternal Separation Anxiety and Overprotective Parenting on Children’s Separation Anxiety

의존적 미혼성인 자녀와 동거하는 어머니의 양가감정이 자녀분리불안과 심리적 안녕감에 미치는 영향

의존적 미혼성인 자녀와 동거하는 어머니의 양가감정이 자녀분리불안과 심리적 안녕감에 미치는 영향

Maternal Anxiety and Separation Anxiety in Children Aged Between 3 and 6 Years: The Mediating Role of Parenting Style.

Maternal anxiety is known to be associated with childhood separation anxiety. However, there is little research on the mediating factors of this relationship, despite the possible consequences separation anxiety might have for children's development and autonomy. The objective of this study was to analyze the possible mediating effects of 4 parenting styles (overprotective, assertive, punitive, and inhibited) on the relationship between maternal anxiety and child separation anxiety. Participants were 235 mothers with children aged 3 to 6 years, recruited from 6 preschools in the southeast of Spain. Maternal trait anxiety, maternal parenting style, and child separation anxiety were evaluated. A parallel multiple-mediation analysis revealed that the overprotective parenting style was a significant mediator of the relationship between maternal trait anxiety and child separation anxiety. In addition, mothers with higher trait anxiety scores exhibited a greater likelihood of using an overprotective, punitive, or less assertive parenting style. Younger mothers were more likely to use an overprotective parenting style, and compared with girls, boys were more exposed to the assertive style. This study provides initial evidence that parenting style acts as a mediator of the relationship between maternal anxiety and child separation anxiety.

어머니의 분리불안과 어린이집에 대한 신뢰가 영아의 어린이집 적응에 미치는 영향

본 연구는 어머니의 분리불안과 어린이집에 대한 신뢰가 영아의 어린이집 적응에 미치는 영향을 알아보는 데 있다. 이를 위해 경기도 Y시에 소재한 국공립·직장·민간·가정 4개 유형의 어린이집 만1세~2세 영아와 그들의 어머니 154명, 담임교사 58명에게 구조화된 설문지를 통하여 자료를 수집하였다. 연구결과를 도출하기 위해 빈도분석, t-test 및 일원배치 분산분석, 피어슨 상관분석, 다중회귀분석을 실시하였고, 그 결과 첫째 어머니의 분리불안은 취업모보다 전업주부의 경우가 더 높았다. 둘째, 어린이집에 대한 신뢰도는 어머니가 대학졸업의 고학력일 경우 더 높았다. 셋째, 어머니의 분리불안과 어린이집에 대한 신뢰는 적응에 유의한 영향이 나타나지 않았으나, 어머니의 분리불안은 적응 하위 요소인 ‘긍정적 감정’에 부적상관이 나타났고, 신뢰 하위 요소 중 ‘보육성과 인식’은 적응 하위 요소인 ‘친사회적 행동, ‘또래관계’와 정적상관이 나타났으며, ‘관계역량’은 ‘자아강도’와 부적상관관계를 나타냈다. 본 연구의 결과는 영아기 자녀의 어머니가 갖는 분리불안의 최소화와 기관에 대한 신뢰도 향상을 위한 보육 및 교육환경을 조성하는 데 기초적 자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.

어머니 분리불안에 관한 국내 연구 동향 분석

어머니 분리불안에 관한 국내 연구 동향 분석

Mother-child disagreements on child anxiety: associated factors

Purpose Previous literature demonstrated low-to-moderate rates of agreement between children and mothers regarding child anxiety. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate factors related to differences between mother-child dyads who disagreed vs agreed in their reports of child anxiety symptoms. Design/methodology/approach In total, 87 children aged 9-12 years old and their mothers completed questionnaires regarding maternal perceptions of child behavior, maternal separation anxiety about the child’s individuation, and mother-child relationship characteristics. Findings The results showed that mothers in mother-child dyads who disagreed on child anxiety symptoms, compared to those in dyads who agreed on child anxiety symptoms, perceived their children as showing higher affect intensity and behavioral problems. They also expressed greater anxiety about the children’s individuation process, characterized in part by children’s increased autonomy and decline of reliance on them. Further, children in dyads who disagreed, compared to those in dyads who agreed, reported lower mother-child attachment security. Originality/value The results extend the literature by identifying specific factors related to the discrepancy between mothers’ and children’s reports of childhood anxiety in early adolescence. The results highlight the need to consider both mothers’ and children’s views when assessing childhood anxiety. Importantly, the results also indicate that specific factors investigated in this study, including maternal perception of children’s behavioral problems and their affect intensity, maternal anxiety about child individuation, and mother-child attachment security, could be used to inform clinical decisions regarding informant discrepancies.

Mother-infant sleep patterns and parental functioning of room-sharing and solitary-sleeping families: a longitudinal study from 3 to 18 months.

To examine longitudinally differences in (1) objective and subjective sleep patterns and (2) parenting functioning (i.e. maternal emotional distress, maternal separation anxiety, and parental involvement in infant care) between room-sharing and solitary-sleeping mother-infant dyads. Maternal and infant sleep, sleeping arrangements, and parental functioning were assessed at 3 (N = 146), 6 (N = 141), 12 (N = 135), and 18 (N = 130) months postpartum. Maternal and infant sleep were assessed with actigraphy and sleep diaries for five nights. Questionnaires were used to assess sleeping arrangements, nighttime breastfeeding, and parental functioning. Persistent room-sharing mothers (i.e. sharing a room with the infant on at least three assessment points) had significantly lower actigraphy-based sleep percent, lower longest sleep periods, and more night-wakings than persistent solitary-sleeping mothers. For infants, differences in actigraphic sleep were found only in longest sleep period, although mothers of persistent room-sharing infants reported more infant night-wakings than mothers of persistent solitary-sleeping infants. The trajectories of maternal and infant sleep in both room-sharing and solitary-sleeping groups demonstrated that sleep became more consolidated with time. Group differences indicated higher maternal separation anxiety and lower paternal overall and nighttime involvement in infant caregiving in room-sharing families compared with solitary-sleeping families. The findings are discussed in light of the latest American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to share a room until 12 months postpartum. Although no causal effects can be inferred from this study, maternal sleep quality and certain parenting characteristics seem to be important factors to consider when parents consult about sleeping arrangements.

Infant massage improves attitudes toward childbearing, maternal satisfaction and pleasure in parenting

The first year of motherhood is a period of growth and adaptation in women's lives with several challenges such as identifying the baby’s needs and giving appropriate answers, so that mother and baby get to know each other and form a strong bond. Infant massage is one of the approaches that make an important contribution to the psychological and physiological wellbeing of both baby and mother, helping to form a harmonious relationship. This longitudinal study assessed the benefits of infant massage in the relationship between mother and baby, from birth to 12 months old. Comprising 194 dyads of mothers and their babies the subjects were divided into two groups of 97 dyads each. The Experimental group (EG) comprised mothers who undertook infant massage in a postnatal program with a physical therapist once a week. The Control group (CG) comprised mothers who did not attend any postnatal program and did not perform infant massage. Self-reported measures of attitudes concerning motherhood (CAQ-P), experience associated to motherhood (WBPB), parental satisfaction (PSS) and maternal separation anxiety (MSAS) were evaluated. Results showed that mothers in the experimental group were better adapted to motherhood, had greater confidence in their abilities and received more support from their mothers and husbands than mothers in the control group and were therefore more confident in their abilities. The EG group experienced a stronger relationship with their babies and described it as more positive than mothers in the control group. This longitudinal study suggests that mothers who learned how to perform infant massage had more positive attitudes towards the experience of motherhood in helping to increase the level of knowledge, regulation and proximity in the dyad. These findings can in turn help mothers to develop strategies that enable them to better cope with motherhood.

乳児期の子どもの気質・母親の分離不安と後の育児ストレスとの関連 : 第一子を対象にした乳幼児期の縦断研究

乳児期の子どもの気質・母親の分離不安と後の育児ストレスとの関連 : 第一子を対象にした乳幼児期の縦断研究

Maternal Separation Anxiety and Turnover Intentions of Working Mothers by Types of Surrogate Rearing

Maternal Separation Anxiety and Turnover Intentions of Working Mothers by Types of Surrogate Rearing

Searching for the Roots of Overprotective Parenting in Emerging Adulthood: Investigating the Link with Parental Attachment Representations Using An Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM)

The present study aims to examine why parents engage in overprotective parenting in interaction with their emerging adults. Specifically, this study used an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to examine associations between parental attachment representations (both maternal and paternal attachment anxiety and avoidance), parental separation anxiety, and parental overprotection. Additionally, we examined whether maternal attachment, separation anxiety, and overprotection predicted the emerging adult’s actual living situation (at home / away from home) 1 year later, and maternal negative affect regarding emerging adults’ home-leaving. The sample consisted of Caucasian participants and included 246 adolescents in their final year of secondary school (mean age Time 1 = 17.14) and their parents (242 mothers, 218 fathers). Results showed that both maternal and paternal attachment anxiety related to more maternal and paternal separation anxiety, respectively (p’s < .001). In turn, separation anxiety in mothers and fathers related to respectively maternal (p < .001) and paternal overprotection (p < .05), as perceived by the emerging adult. There was one significant partner-effect between maternal attachment anxiety and paternal separation anxiety (p < .05). Further, higher scores on perceived maternal overprotection related to a higher likelihood that the emerging adult would still live at home 1 year later (p < .01), as well as to more negative maternal affect related to the process of home-leaving (p < .05). In sum, the current study revealed the importance of attachment and separation anxiety as significant parental factors related to parental overprotection.

The Role of Separation Anxiety in Mothers’ Use of Autonomy Support: An Observational Study

Parental separation anxiety has been identified as a detrimental factor for parent-adolescent relationship quality and, ultimately, for adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment. However, few studies have examined how separation anxiety is related to parents’ style of interaction with their adolescent, which is unfortunate as this interaction style could explain why separation anxiety is related to negative outcomes. The present study (a) examined the association between maternal separation anxiety and mothers’ autonomy-supportive, relative to controlling, conversation style as observed in mother-adolescent interactions about the adolescents’ friendships, and (b) investigated the link between maternal separation anxiety and mothers’ personal experiences during the conversation. A total of 62 mother–adolescent dyads (M age mothers = 44 years, M age adolescents = 14 years) were willing to participate in this study. After mothers filled out a measure of separation anxiety, mothers’ autonomy-supportive and controlling practices were observed and coded during a 10-min conversation. Further, mothers reported on their emotional and motivational experiences during the conversation. Mothers high on separation anxiety were observed to be less autonomy-supportive and to experience the conversation as more stressful (e.g., more pressure, more tension, and more relief at the end). Clinically, our results suggest that maternal separation anxiety is an important target for intervention and prevention efforts aimed at promoting autonomy-supportive parenting.

Genetic Regulation of Maternal Oxytocin Response and Its Influences on Maternal Behavior.

We interrogated the genetic modulation of maternal oxytocin response and its association with maternal behavior using genetic risk scores within the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene. We identified a novel SNP, rs968389, to be significantly associated with maternal oxytocin response after a challenging mother-infant interaction task (Still Face Paradigm) and maternal separation anxiety from the infant. Performing a multiallelic analysis across OXTR by calculating a cumulative genetic risk score revealed a significant gene-by-environment (G × E) interaction, with OXTR genetic risk score interacting with adult separation anxiety to modulate levels of maternal sensitivity. Mothers with higher OXTR genetic risk score and adult separation anxiety showed significantly reduced levels of maternal sensitivity during free play with the infant. The same G × E interaction was also observed for the extended OXTR cumulative genetic risk score that included rs968389. Moreover, the extended cumulative OXTR genetic risk score itself was found to be significantly associated with maternal separation anxiety as it specifically relates to the infant. Our results suggest a complex montage of individual and synergistic genetic mediators of maternal behavior. These findings add to specific knowledge about genetic regulation of maternal oxytocin response in relation to maternal adjustment and infant bonding through the first few months of life.

Relations Between Parental and Child Separation Anxiety: The Role of Dependency-Oriented Psychological Control.

Although separation anxiety is prevalent in young children, it remains unclear whether and how maternal separation anxiety is related to separation anxiety in children. This study examined associations between maternal separation anxiety and separation anxiety in children, and the potential effect psychologically controlling parenting. Mothers (N = 269) and children (N = 287) recruited for a community sample participated in two 1-year interval data-waves. Children were aged five-eight and were interviewed using an age-appropriate method for obtaining self-reports of separation anxiety and perceptions of dependency-oriented psychologically controlling parenting. Mothers reported on their feelings of separation anxiety regarding their child via a questionnaire. We found that maternal separation anxiety was positively related to separation anxiety in children within, but not over time. We did not find psychologically controlling parenting to mediate this association. Studying other factors than parenting may be an important avenue for future research in explaining separation anxiety in children.

The effects of prenatal exposure to a 900 megahertz electromagnetic field on hippocampus morphology and learning behavior in rat pups

This study was planned to examine the effect on hippocampus morphology and learning behavior in rat pups exposed to a 900 megahertz (MHz) electromagnetic field (EMF) in the prenatal period. Sprague Dawley rats weighing 180-250 g at the beginning of the study and with a regular cycle were left to mate with male rats. The following day, rats identified as pregnant using the vaginal smear test were divided into two groups; control (n=3) and EMF (n=3). No procedure was performed in the control group. The EMF group was exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 1h per day on days 13 to 21 of pregnancy. Female rat pups were removed from their mothers at 21 days old. Two newborn rat groups were then established, a 13 member control group and a 10 member EMF group. We foresaw that maternal separation anxiety might develop in the rat pups, and behavioral tests commenced 4 days later. Radial arm maze and passive avoidance tests measuring learning and memory performance and the open field test to evaluate locomotor activities were applied. All rats were decapitated on the 32nd day of the study and brain tissues removed. These were fixed in paraffin and underwent routine histological tissue analyses. Sections were taken, stained with Cresyl fast violet and subjected to histopathological examination. Positive effects on learning behavior were determined in the EMF group rats in the radial arm maze (p=0.007) and passive avoidance (p=0.037) tests, administered to both groups under identical conditions, while no statistically significant difference was determined in the open field test (p=0.05) results. The absence of any statistical difference in the open field test shows that the animals were not exposed to any stress during application of the test. No pathology was determined in the control group at histopathological examination of the sections. In contrast, neuronal and morphological compromise was observed in the EMF group. Our results show that exposure to a 900 MHz EMF in the prenatal period had an adverse effect on female pups learning behavior and also caused histopathological changes in the hippocampus.

Postpartum maternal separation anxiety, overprotective parenting, and children’s social-emotional well-being: Longitudinal evidence from an Australian cohort.

Postpartum maternal separation anxiety refers to a mothers' experience of worry and concern about leaving her child for short-term separations. The long-term effects of high maternal separation anxiety on maternal parenting behaviors and child outcomes have been not been established empirically. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prospective relationships between maternal separation anxiety during the child's first year of life, and overprotective parenting and children's social and emotional functioning at age 2-3 years. Structural equation modeling with a large representative cohort of Australian mother-child dyads (N = 3,103) indicated that high maternal separation anxiety was associated with more overprotective parenting behaviors and poorer child socioemotional functioning at age 2-3 years. Findings suggest women with high postpartum maternal separation anxiety may sustain this vigilance across the first years following birth, promoting overprotective behaviors, and resulting in increased behavior problems in their children. Support for women around negotiating separation from their children early in parenthood may prevent the establishment of a repertoire of parenting behaviors that includes unnecessarily high vigilance, monitoring, and anxiety about separation.