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Unpredictable maternal behavior is associated with a blunted infant cortisol response
Author(s) -
NoroñaZhou Amanda N.,
Morgan Alyssa,
Glynn Laura M.,
Sandman Curt A.,
Baram Tallie Z.,
Stern Hal S.,
Davis Elysia Poggi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21964
Subject(s) - stressor , psychology , developmental psychology , distress , maternal sensitivity , sensory system , fight or flight response , audiology , hydrocortisone , physiology , clinical psychology , medicine , neuroscience , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Background Dysregulation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis is associated with poor physical and mental health. Early‐life adversity may dysregulate cortisol response to subsequent stress. This study examines the association between patterns of maternal behavior and infant stress response to a challenge. Specifically, we test whether infant exposure to unpredictable maternal sensory signals is related to the cortisol response to a painful stressor. Method Participants were 102 mothers and their children enrolled in a longitudinal study. Patterns of maternal sensory signals were evaluated at 6 and 12 months during a 10‐min mother–infant play episode. Entropy rate was calculated as a quantitative measure of the degree of unpredictability of maternal sensory signals (visual, auditory, and tactile) exhibited during the play episode. Infant saliva samples were collected for cortisol analysis before and after inoculation at 12 months. Results Unpredictable patterns of maternal sensory signals were associated with a blunted infant cortisol response to a painful stressor. This relation persisted after evaluation of covariates including maternal sensitivity and maternal psychological distress. Conclusions This study provides evidence that unpredictable patterns of maternal sensory signals are one process through which caregiving affects the function of infant stress response systems.