TY - JOUR
T1 - Hair cortisol in the perinatal period mediates associations between maternal adversity and disrupted maternal interaction in early infancy
AU - Nyström-hansen, Maja
AU - Andersen, Marianne S.
AU - Khoury, Jennifer E.
AU - Davidsen, Kirstine
AU - Gumley, Andrew
AU - Lyons-ruth, Karlen
AU - Macbeth, Angus
AU - Harder, Susanne
PY - 2019/2/12
Y1 - 2019/2/12
N2 - Existing literature points to the possibility that cortisol could be one link between maternal adversity and poorer parenting quality, but most studies have examined salivary cortisol concentrations rather than hair cortisol concentrations. The current study examined hair cortisol concentration (HCC) during the third trimester of pregnancy as a mediator between maternal adversity indicators (childhood abuse, severe mental illness, symptomatic functioning) and maternal caregiving behavior at 4 months postpartum. Forty‐four women participated in the study: 30 with severe mental disorders, and 14 nonclinical controls. HCC was assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy (HCC‐P) and at 4 months postpartum (HCC‐4M). Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse were assessed by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Questionnaire. Maternal disrupted interaction was reliably coded from mother–infant video interactions during a Still‐Face Procedure. Mediation models indicated that maternal HCC‐P and HCC‐4M mediated associations between maternal psychopathology (severe mental illness, symptomatic functioning) and maternal disrupted interaction at 4 months. Maternal HCC at 4 months also mediated associations between experienced childhood abuse and overall disrupted interaction. Our findings indicate that HCC may be a potential early biomarker for future caregiving challenges among mothers with severe mental illness and histories of childhood abuse.
AB - Existing literature points to the possibility that cortisol could be one link between maternal adversity and poorer parenting quality, but most studies have examined salivary cortisol concentrations rather than hair cortisol concentrations. The current study examined hair cortisol concentration (HCC) during the third trimester of pregnancy as a mediator between maternal adversity indicators (childhood abuse, severe mental illness, symptomatic functioning) and maternal caregiving behavior at 4 months postpartum. Forty‐four women participated in the study: 30 with severe mental disorders, and 14 nonclinical controls. HCC was assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy (HCC‐P) and at 4 months postpartum (HCC‐4M). Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse were assessed by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Questionnaire. Maternal disrupted interaction was reliably coded from mother–infant video interactions during a Still‐Face Procedure. Mediation models indicated that maternal HCC‐P and HCC‐4M mediated associations between maternal psychopathology (severe mental illness, symptomatic functioning) and maternal disrupted interaction at 4 months. Maternal HCC at 4 months also mediated associations between experienced childhood abuse and overall disrupted interaction. Our findings indicate that HCC may be a potential early biomarker for future caregiving challenges among mothers with severe mental illness and histories of childhood abuse.
KW - disrupted maternal behavior
KW - hair cortisol
KW - maternal childhood abuse
KW - perinatal period
KW - severe mental illness
U2 - 10.1002/dev.21833
DO - 10.1002/dev.21833
M3 - Article
JO - Developmental Psychobiology
JF - Developmental Psychobiology
SN - 0012-1630
ER -