Normal Variation in Early Parental Sensitivity Predicts Child Structural Brain Development - 23/09/15
Abstract |
Objective |
Early caregiving can have an impact on brain structure and function in children. The influence of extreme caregiving experiences has been demonstrated, but studies on the influence of normal variation in parenting quality are scarce. Moreover, no studies to date have included the role of both maternal and paternal sensitivity in child brain maturation. This study examined the prospective relation between mothers’ and fathers’ sensitive caregiving in early childhood and brain structure later in childhood.
Method |
Participants were enrolled in a population-based prenatal cohort. For 191 families, maternal and paternal sensitivity was repeatedly observed when the child was between 1 year and 4 years of age. Head circumference was assessed at 6 weeks, and brain structure was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements at 8 years of age.
Results |
Higher levels of parental sensitivity in early childhood were associated with larger total brain volume (adjusted β = 0.15, p = .01) and gray matter volume (adjusted β = 0.16, p = .01) at 8 years, controlling for infant head size. Higher levels of maternal sensitivity in early childhood were associated with a larger gray matter volume (adjusted β = 0.13, p = .04) at 8 years, independent of infant head circumference. Associations with maternal versus paternal sensitivity were not significantly different.
Conclusion |
Normal variation in caregiving quality is related to markers of more optimal brain development in children. The results illustrate the important role of both mothers and fathers in child brain development.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key Words : sensitivity, mother, father, brain structure, MRI
Plan
| The first phase of the Generation R Study is financially supported by the Erasmus Medical Center, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). The present study was additionally supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO, grant 452-04-306, grant 453-09-003 [VIDI; VICI] to M.J.B.-K.; grant 017.106.370 [VIDI] to H.T.; SPINOZA prize to M.H.vIJ.) and ZonMw TOP (grant 40-00812-98-11021) to T.W. M.J.B.-K., H.T., F.C.V., and M.H.vIJ. are also members of the Consortium on Individual Development funded through the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and NWO (grant 024.001.003). |
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| The Generation R Study is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center with the Faculty of Social Sciences of Erasmus University and the Municipal Health Service Rotterdam. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of general practitioners, hospitals, midwives, and pharmacies in Rotterdam. |
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| Disclosure: Dr. Verhulst has received remuneration as contributing author of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Drs. Kok, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Jaddoe, White, van IJzendoorn, Tiemeier, and Ms. Thijssen report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. |
Vol 54 - N° 10
P. 824 - octobre 2015 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
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