The Experts below are selected from a list of 81 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
empathy and hormonal changes as predictors of Sensitive Responsiveness towards infant crying a study protocol
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021Co-Authors: Maria Kaźmierczak, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Paulina Pawlicka, Paulina Anikiejwiczenbach, Ariadna ładamaśko, Bogumila Kielbratowska, Magda Rybicka, Alicja Kotlowska, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Sensitive Responsiveness refers to parents' ability to recognize and respond to infants' cues and has been linked to parental empathy. Additionally, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hormones important for sensitivity and empathy. The aim of this study is to test the links between dispositional empathy along with changing OT and AVP levels and Responsiveness to a life-like doll in couples and to verify whether these factors are predictors of Responsiveness to a child's cues. Exploratory analyses include predictors of Sensitive Responsiveness: polymorphisms of OXTR, AVPR1a and CD38 genes, personal characteristics and relational factors. The project employs standardized experimental settings that can be used with non-parents and the assessment of parental Sensitive Responsiveness towards their child. The participants are couples expecting their first child (111) and childless couples (110). The procedure involves caretaking of a life-like doll. Salivary samples and questionnaire data are collected in a planned manner. In the second part, the expectant couples are invited for the assessment of their sensitivity to their own child (Free Play episodes). Parental sensitivity is assessed using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale. This paper presents an interdisciplinary research project that reaches beyond the questionnaire measurement, considering many factors influencing the dynamics of adult-infant interaction.
-
breastfeeding and its relation to maternal sensitivity and infant attachment
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2012Co-Authors: Anne Tharner, Maartje P C M Luijk, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Albert Hofman, Frank C Verhulst, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Hein Raat, Henriette A Moll, Henning TiemeierAbstract:Objective: To examine the association of breastfeeding with maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and infant-mother attachment security and disorganization. Methods: We included 675 participants of a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires about breastfeeding practices were administered at 2 and 6 months postpartum. At 14 months, maternal Sensitive Responsiveness was assessed in a 13-minute laboratory procedure using Ainsworth's sensitivity scales, and attachment quality was assessed with the Strange Situation Procedure. Mothers were genotyped for oxytocin receptor genes OXTR rs53576 and OXTR rs2254298. Linear regressions and analyses of covariance adjusted for various background variables were conducted. We tested for mediation and moderation by maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and maternal oxytocin receptor genotype. Results: Continuous analyses showed that longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with more maternal Sensitive Responsiveness (B = 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02; 0.20, p < .05), more attachment security (B = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.02; 0.46, p < .05), and less attachment disorganization (B = -0.20, 95% CI -0.36; -0.03, p < .05). Duration of breastfeeding was not related to the risk of insecure-avoidant or insecure-resistant versus secure attachment classification, but longer duration of breastfeeding predicted a lower risk of disorganized versus secure attachment classification (n = 151; odds ratio [OR] = 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.99, p = .04). Maternal Sensitive Responsiveness did not mediate the associations, and maternal oxytocin receptor genotype was not a significant moderator. Conclusions: Although duration of breastfeeding was not associated with differences in infant-mother attachment classifications, we found subtle positive associations between duration of breastfeeding and Sensitive Responsiveness, attachment security, and disorganization.
-
the association between parenting and attachment security is moderated by a polymorphism in the mineralocorticoid receptor gene evidence for differential susceptibility
Biological Psychology, 2011Co-Authors: Maartje P C M Luijk, Anne Tharner, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Albert Hofman, Frank C Verhulst, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Henning TiemeierAbstract:Maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and extreme insensitivity only partly explain the variance in attachment security. Differences in attachment security may well be rooted in the interplay of genetic variations and environmental factors. The association between parenting (observed Sensitive Responsiveness and extreme insensitivity) and attachment security (assessed with the Strange Situation Procedure) was hypothesized to be moderated by genes involved in the regulation of the stress response: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) genes. A significant G. × E interaction was found: infants carrying the minor MR allele (G) were significantly more securely attached if their mothers showed more Sensitive Responsiveness and significantly less securely attached if their mothers showed more extremely inSensitive behaviors. These associations were not significant for carriers of the AA genotype of MR. Findings are discussed from a differential susceptibility perspective.
-
the importance of parenting in the development of disorganized attachment evidence from a preventive intervention study in adoptive families
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2005Co-Authors: Femmie Juffer, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Background: As infant disorganized attachment is a serious risk factor for later child psychopathology, it is important to examine whether attachment disorganization can be prevented or reduced. Method: In a randomized intervention study involving 130 families with 6-month-old adopted infants, two attachment-based intervention programs were tested. In the first program, mothers were provided a personal book, and in the second program mothers received the same personal book and three home-based sessions of video feedback. The third group did not receive intervention (control group). Results: The intervention with video feedback and the personal book resulted in enhanced maternal Sensitive Responsiveness (d = .65). Children of mothers who received this intervention were less likely to be classified as disorganized attached at the age of 12 months (d = .46), and received lower scores on the rating scale for disorganization than children in the control group (d = .62). In the book-only intervention group children showed lower disorganization ratings compared to the control group, but no effect on the number of infants with disorganized attachment classifications was found. Conclusion: Our short-term preventive intervention program with video feedback and a book lowered the rate of disorganized attachment. The effectiveness of our intervention documents the importance of parenting in the development of infant attachment disorganization.
Marian J Bakermanskranenburg - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
empathy and hormonal changes as predictors of Sensitive Responsiveness towards infant crying a study protocol
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021Co-Authors: Maria Kaźmierczak, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Paulina Pawlicka, Paulina Anikiejwiczenbach, Ariadna ładamaśko, Bogumila Kielbratowska, Magda Rybicka, Alicja Kotlowska, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Sensitive Responsiveness refers to parents' ability to recognize and respond to infants' cues and has been linked to parental empathy. Additionally, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hormones important for sensitivity and empathy. The aim of this study is to test the links between dispositional empathy along with changing OT and AVP levels and Responsiveness to a life-like doll in couples and to verify whether these factors are predictors of Responsiveness to a child's cues. Exploratory analyses include predictors of Sensitive Responsiveness: polymorphisms of OXTR, AVPR1a and CD38 genes, personal characteristics and relational factors. The project employs standardized experimental settings that can be used with non-parents and the assessment of parental Sensitive Responsiveness towards their child. The participants are couples expecting their first child (111) and childless couples (110). The procedure involves caretaking of a life-like doll. Salivary samples and questionnaire data are collected in a planned manner. In the second part, the expectant couples are invited for the assessment of their sensitivity to their own child (Free Play episodes). Parental sensitivity is assessed using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale. This paper presents an interdisciplinary research project that reaches beyond the questionnaire measurement, considering many factors influencing the dynamics of adult-infant interaction.
-
breastfeeding and its relation to maternal sensitivity and infant attachment
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2012Co-Authors: Anne Tharner, Maartje P C M Luijk, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Albert Hofman, Frank C Verhulst, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Hein Raat, Henriette A Moll, Henning TiemeierAbstract:Objective: To examine the association of breastfeeding with maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and infant-mother attachment security and disorganization. Methods: We included 675 participants of a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires about breastfeeding practices were administered at 2 and 6 months postpartum. At 14 months, maternal Sensitive Responsiveness was assessed in a 13-minute laboratory procedure using Ainsworth's sensitivity scales, and attachment quality was assessed with the Strange Situation Procedure. Mothers were genotyped for oxytocin receptor genes OXTR rs53576 and OXTR rs2254298. Linear regressions and analyses of covariance adjusted for various background variables were conducted. We tested for mediation and moderation by maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and maternal oxytocin receptor genotype. Results: Continuous analyses showed that longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with more maternal Sensitive Responsiveness (B = 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02; 0.20, p < .05), more attachment security (B = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.02; 0.46, p < .05), and less attachment disorganization (B = -0.20, 95% CI -0.36; -0.03, p < .05). Duration of breastfeeding was not related to the risk of insecure-avoidant or insecure-resistant versus secure attachment classification, but longer duration of breastfeeding predicted a lower risk of disorganized versus secure attachment classification (n = 151; odds ratio [OR] = 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.99, p = .04). Maternal Sensitive Responsiveness did not mediate the associations, and maternal oxytocin receptor genotype was not a significant moderator. Conclusions: Although duration of breastfeeding was not associated with differences in infant-mother attachment classifications, we found subtle positive associations between duration of breastfeeding and Sensitive Responsiveness, attachment security, and disorganization.
-
the association between parenting and attachment security is moderated by a polymorphism in the mineralocorticoid receptor gene evidence for differential susceptibility
Biological Psychology, 2011Co-Authors: Maartje P C M Luijk, Anne Tharner, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Albert Hofman, Frank C Verhulst, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Henning TiemeierAbstract:Maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and extreme insensitivity only partly explain the variance in attachment security. Differences in attachment security may well be rooted in the interplay of genetic variations and environmental factors. The association between parenting (observed Sensitive Responsiveness and extreme insensitivity) and attachment security (assessed with the Strange Situation Procedure) was hypothesized to be moderated by genes involved in the regulation of the stress response: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) genes. A significant G. × E interaction was found: infants carrying the minor MR allele (G) were significantly more securely attached if their mothers showed more Sensitive Responsiveness and significantly less securely attached if their mothers showed more extremely inSensitive behaviors. These associations were not significant for carriers of the AA genotype of MR. Findings are discussed from a differential susceptibility perspective.
-
supporting inSensitive mothers the vilnius randomized control trial of video feedback intervention to promote maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security
Child Care Health and Development, 2009Co-Authors: L Kalinauskiene, Femmie Juffer, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, D Cekuoliene, M H Van Ijzendoorn, I KusakovskajaAbstract:Objective This randomized control trial examined the effects of a short-term, interaction-focused and attachment-based video-feedback intervention (VIPP: video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting). Design VIPP effect on mothers’ Sensitive Responsiveness and infant–mother attachment security was evaluated in a sample (n = 54) of low Sensitive, non-clinical, middle class Lithuanian mothers. Methods Maternal sensitivity was assessed in a free play session with the Ainsworth’s sensitivity scale, and attachment security was observed using the Attachment Q sort for home observations. Results We found that the intervention mothers indeed significantly improved their Sensitive Responsiveness through participation in our VIPP. The effect size was large according to Cohen’s criteria,d = 0.78. VIPP enhanced maternal Sensitive Responsiveness even when maternal age, educational level, depression, daily hassles, efficacy, infant gender, and infant negative and positive affect were controlled for. However, attachment security in the VIPP infants was not enhanced after the intervention, compared with the control infants, and the infants did not seem to be differentially susceptible to the increase in maternal sensitivity dependent on their temperamental reactivity. Conclusion We suggest that a relatively brief and low-cost programme can provide effective support for mothers who lack sensitivity in the interactions with their infants. A mother’s mental representations of attachment as well as her behaviour to her infant, influenced by her attachment representations, are associated with the quality of the infant’s attachment to the mother (Van IJzendoorn 1995; De Wolff & Van IJzendoorn 1997; Berlin & Cassidy 2000). Longitudinal studies on secure and insecure infant attachment reveal the beneficial long-term effects of secure infant attachment on children’s later
-
oxytocin receptor oxtr and serotonin transporter 5 htt genes associated with observed parenting
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 2008Co-Authors: Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Both oxytocin and serotonin modulate affiliative responses to partners and offspring. Animal studies suggest a crucial role of oxytocin in mammalian parturition and lactation but also in parenting and social interactions with offspring. The serotonergic system may also be important through its influence on mood and the release of oxytocin. We examined the role of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genes in explaining differences in Sensitive parenting in a community sample of 159 Caucasian, middle-class mothers with their 2-year-old toddlers at risk for externalizing behavior problems, taking into account maternal educational level, maternal depression and the quality of the marital relationship. Independent genetic effects of 5-HTTLPR SCL6A4 and OXTR rs53576 on observed maternal sensitivity were found. Controlling for differences in maternal education, depression and marital discord, parents with the possibly less efficient variants of the serotonergic (5-HTT ss) and oxytonergic (AA/AG) system genes showed lower levels of Sensitive Responsiveness to their toddlers. Two-way and three-way interactions with marital discord or depression were not significant. This first study on the role of both OXTR and 5-HTT genes in human parenting points to molecular genetic differences that may be implicated in the production of oxytocin explaining differences in Sensitive parenting.
Femmie Juffer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
supporting inSensitive mothers the vilnius randomized control trial of video feedback intervention to promote maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security
Child Care Health and Development, 2009Co-Authors: L Kalinauskiene, Femmie Juffer, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, D Cekuoliene, M H Van Ijzendoorn, I KusakovskajaAbstract:Objective This randomized control trial examined the effects of a short-term, interaction-focused and attachment-based video-feedback intervention (VIPP: video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting). Design VIPP effect on mothers’ Sensitive Responsiveness and infant–mother attachment security was evaluated in a sample (n = 54) of low Sensitive, non-clinical, middle class Lithuanian mothers. Methods Maternal sensitivity was assessed in a free play session with the Ainsworth’s sensitivity scale, and attachment security was observed using the Attachment Q sort for home observations. Results We found that the intervention mothers indeed significantly improved their Sensitive Responsiveness through participation in our VIPP. The effect size was large according to Cohen’s criteria,d = 0.78. VIPP enhanced maternal Sensitive Responsiveness even when maternal age, educational level, depression, daily hassles, efficacy, infant gender, and infant negative and positive affect were controlled for. However, attachment security in the VIPP infants was not enhanced after the intervention, compared with the control infants, and the infants did not seem to be differentially susceptible to the increase in maternal sensitivity dependent on their temperamental reactivity. Conclusion We suggest that a relatively brief and low-cost programme can provide effective support for mothers who lack sensitivity in the interactions with their infants. A mother’s mental representations of attachment as well as her behaviour to her infant, influenced by her attachment representations, are associated with the quality of the infant’s attachment to the mother (Van IJzendoorn 1995; De Wolff & Van IJzendoorn 1997; Berlin & Cassidy 2000). Longitudinal studies on secure and insecure infant attachment reveal the beneficial long-term effects of secure infant attachment on children’s later
-
the importance of parenting in the development of disorganized attachment evidence from a preventive intervention study in adoptive families
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2005Co-Authors: Femmie Juffer, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Background: As infant disorganized attachment is a serious risk factor for later child psychopathology, it is important to examine whether attachment disorganization can be prevented or reduced. Method: In a randomized intervention study involving 130 families with 6-month-old adopted infants, two attachment-based intervention programs were tested. In the first program, mothers were provided a personal book, and in the second program mothers received the same personal book and three home-based sessions of video feedback. The third group did not receive intervention (control group). Results: The intervention with video feedback and the personal book resulted in enhanced maternal Sensitive Responsiveness (d = .65). Children of mothers who received this intervention were less likely to be classified as disorganized attached at the age of 12 months (d = .46), and received lower scores on the rating scale for disorganization than children in the control group (d = .62). In the book-only intervention group children showed lower disorganization ratings compared to the control group, but no effect on the number of infants with disorganized attachment classifications was found. Conclusion: Our short-term preventive intervention program with video feedback and a book lowered the rate of disorganized attachment. The effectiveness of our intervention documents the importance of parenting in the development of infant attachment disorganization.
-
the development and adjustment of 7 year old children adopted in infancy
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2000Co-Authors: G J J M Stams, Femmie Juffer, Jan Rispens, Rene A C HoksbergenAbstract:The present study (N fl 159) provides evidence of an increased risk for behavior problems of infant-placed 7-year-old internationally, transracially adopted children in the Netherlands. However, parents reported more behavior problems for adopted boys than for adopted girls. Notably, about 30% of the adopted children were classified as clinical on the CBCL scale for total problems, which is a much larger percentage than the 10% found in the normative population. It was suggested that these results could be explained by the operation of multiple risk factors before and after adoption placement, e.g. the child’s genetic disposition, pre-natal and pre-adoption care, or the child’s cognitive understanding of adoption in middle childhood. Also, results suggest that maternal Sensitive Responsiveness in adoptive families declines in the transition from early to middle childhood. In contrast to the home setting, the adopted children showed favorable behavioral and socioemotional adjustment at school, while their academic achievement and intelligence were in the normal range or above average. In particular Korean children had high IQs: 31% of these children obtained an intelligence score above 120. It was suggested that adoptive parents seem to oer their children sucient or even more than average cognitive stimulation. Furthermore, adopted girls scored higher in optimal ego-control, social competence, and peer group popularity than nonadopted girls from the general population: 30% of the adopted girls were rated as popular by their classmates, which compares favorably to the 13% found in the general school population.
-
early intervention in adoptive families supporting maternal Sensitive Responsiveness infant mother attachment and infant competence
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1997Co-Authors: Femmie Juffer, Rene A C Hoksbergen, J M Riksenwalraven, G A KohnstammAbstract:Results from adoption studies suggest that adoptive families may experience special impediments with respect to the developmental progress and outcome of their children. Based on attachment theory, two early intervention programs were designed to support families in the Netherlands with an internationally adopted child. The intervention aimed at promoting maternal Sensitive Responsiveness, secure infant-mother attachment relationships, and infant exploratory competence. Ninety families with an interracially adopted infant (71 from Sri Lanka and 19 from Korea) were assigned to either a control group or one of two intervention groups. All of the children, 44 boys and 46 girls, were placed for adoption under the age of 5 months (M = 8 weeks). The first intervention group (N = 30) received a personal book, which focused on Sensitive parenting. The second intervention group (N = 30) was provided with the same book as well as with three video-feedback sessions at their home. The control group (N = 30) did not receive intervention. In the control group Sensitive Responsiveness and security of attachment were comparable to outcomes from normative samples. The least intensive program, the personal book, did not bring about change in mothers or infants. In contrast, intervention effects were established upon maternal Sensitive Responsiveness, infant competence, and infant-mother attachment in the group that received both the book and video feedback.
Rene A C Hoksbergen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
the development and adjustment of 7 year old children adopted in infancy
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2000Co-Authors: G J J M Stams, Femmie Juffer, Jan Rispens, Rene A C HoksbergenAbstract:The present study (N fl 159) provides evidence of an increased risk for behavior problems of infant-placed 7-year-old internationally, transracially adopted children in the Netherlands. However, parents reported more behavior problems for adopted boys than for adopted girls. Notably, about 30% of the adopted children were classified as clinical on the CBCL scale for total problems, which is a much larger percentage than the 10% found in the normative population. It was suggested that these results could be explained by the operation of multiple risk factors before and after adoption placement, e.g. the child’s genetic disposition, pre-natal and pre-adoption care, or the child’s cognitive understanding of adoption in middle childhood. Also, results suggest that maternal Sensitive Responsiveness in adoptive families declines in the transition from early to middle childhood. In contrast to the home setting, the adopted children showed favorable behavioral and socioemotional adjustment at school, while their academic achievement and intelligence were in the normal range or above average. In particular Korean children had high IQs: 31% of these children obtained an intelligence score above 120. It was suggested that adoptive parents seem to oer their children sucient or even more than average cognitive stimulation. Furthermore, adopted girls scored higher in optimal ego-control, social competence, and peer group popularity than nonadopted girls from the general population: 30% of the adopted girls were rated as popular by their classmates, which compares favorably to the 13% found in the general school population.
-
early intervention in adoptive families supporting maternal Sensitive Responsiveness infant mother attachment and infant competence
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1997Co-Authors: Femmie Juffer, Rene A C Hoksbergen, J M Riksenwalraven, G A KohnstammAbstract:Results from adoption studies suggest that adoptive families may experience special impediments with respect to the developmental progress and outcome of their children. Based on attachment theory, two early intervention programs were designed to support families in the Netherlands with an internationally adopted child. The intervention aimed at promoting maternal Sensitive Responsiveness, secure infant-mother attachment relationships, and infant exploratory competence. Ninety families with an interracially adopted infant (71 from Sri Lanka and 19 from Korea) were assigned to either a control group or one of two intervention groups. All of the children, 44 boys and 46 girls, were placed for adoption under the age of 5 months (M = 8 weeks). The first intervention group (N = 30) received a personal book, which focused on Sensitive parenting. The second intervention group (N = 30) was provided with the same book as well as with three video-feedback sessions at their home. The control group (N = 30) did not receive intervention. In the control group Sensitive Responsiveness and security of attachment were comparable to outcomes from normative samples. The least intensive program, the personal book, did not bring about change in mothers or infants. In contrast, intervention effects were established upon maternal Sensitive Responsiveness, infant competence, and infant-mother attachment in the group that received both the book and video feedback.
Henning Tiemeier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
breastfeeding and its relation to maternal sensitivity and infant attachment
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2012Co-Authors: Anne Tharner, Maartje P C M Luijk, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Albert Hofman, Frank C Verhulst, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Hein Raat, Henriette A Moll, Henning TiemeierAbstract:Objective: To examine the association of breastfeeding with maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and infant-mother attachment security and disorganization. Methods: We included 675 participants of a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires about breastfeeding practices were administered at 2 and 6 months postpartum. At 14 months, maternal Sensitive Responsiveness was assessed in a 13-minute laboratory procedure using Ainsworth's sensitivity scales, and attachment quality was assessed with the Strange Situation Procedure. Mothers were genotyped for oxytocin receptor genes OXTR rs53576 and OXTR rs2254298. Linear regressions and analyses of covariance adjusted for various background variables were conducted. We tested for mediation and moderation by maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and maternal oxytocin receptor genotype. Results: Continuous analyses showed that longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with more maternal Sensitive Responsiveness (B = 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02; 0.20, p < .05), more attachment security (B = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.02; 0.46, p < .05), and less attachment disorganization (B = -0.20, 95% CI -0.36; -0.03, p < .05). Duration of breastfeeding was not related to the risk of insecure-avoidant or insecure-resistant versus secure attachment classification, but longer duration of breastfeeding predicted a lower risk of disorganized versus secure attachment classification (n = 151; odds ratio [OR] = 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.99, p = .04). Maternal Sensitive Responsiveness did not mediate the associations, and maternal oxytocin receptor genotype was not a significant moderator. Conclusions: Although duration of breastfeeding was not associated with differences in infant-mother attachment classifications, we found subtle positive associations between duration of breastfeeding and Sensitive Responsiveness, attachment security, and disorganization.
-
the association between parenting and attachment security is moderated by a polymorphism in the mineralocorticoid receptor gene evidence for differential susceptibility
Biological Psychology, 2011Co-Authors: Maartje P C M Luijk, Anne Tharner, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Albert Hofman, Frank C Verhulst, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Henning TiemeierAbstract:Maternal Sensitive Responsiveness and extreme insensitivity only partly explain the variance in attachment security. Differences in attachment security may well be rooted in the interplay of genetic variations and environmental factors. The association between parenting (observed Sensitive Responsiveness and extreme insensitivity) and attachment security (assessed with the Strange Situation Procedure) was hypothesized to be moderated by genes involved in the regulation of the stress response: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) genes. A significant G. × E interaction was found: infants carrying the minor MR allele (G) were significantly more securely attached if their mothers showed more Sensitive Responsiveness and significantly less securely attached if their mothers showed more extremely inSensitive behaviors. These associations were not significant for carriers of the AA genotype of MR. Findings are discussed from a differential susceptibility perspective.
