Very Preterm and Full‐Term Infants' Response to Socio‐Emotional Stress: The Role of Postnatal Maternal Bonding. (19th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Provenzi, Livio; Fumagalli, Monica; Bernasconi, Federica; Sirgiovanni, Ida; Morandi, Francesco; Borgatti, Renato; Montirosso, Rosario
• Is Part Of: Infancy. Volume 22:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 695
• Page End: 712
• Publication Date: 2016-12-19
• Subjects: Infant psychology -- Periodicals; Infants -- Development -- Periodicals; Infants -- Periodicals; 155.42205
• DOI: 10.1111/infa.12175
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1525-0008

Abstract

Abstract : Very preterm (VPT) infants are at risk for altered socio‐emotional stress regulation, even in the absence of perinatal complications. Moreover, becoming a mother of a VPT infant is a traumatic event, which might affect the establishment of a bonding relationship toward the infant during the postnatal period. The main aim of the present study was to assess the association between maternal postnatal bonding and socio‐emotional stress response in 3‐month‐old VPT infants, compared to full‐term (FT) controls. Thirty‐three VPT and 28 FT infant‐mother dyads underwent the maternal Face‐to‐Face Still‐Face (FFSF) procedure to assess socio‐emotional stress regulation. Maternal postnatal bonding was measured through the Maternal Post‐Natal Attachment Scale (MPAS), which includes three scales: Quality of attachment, Absence of hostility, and Pleasure in interaction. The VPT infants exhibited less self‐directed and other‐directed regulatory behaviors during the Still‐Face episode. Mothers of VPT infants reported lower Quality of attachment compared to FT counterparts. Importantly, higher levels of Quality of attachment were associated with more other‐directed behaviors during the Still‐Face episode in FT dyads, whereas this was not observed in VPT dyads. In conclusion, VPT infants might be exposed to a double‐risk condition for socio‐emotional development, encompassing both difficulties in stress response and the exposure to a less‐than‐optimal maternal bonding.