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Effects of perinatal testosterone on infant health, mother-infant interactions, and infant development

June Cho1, Diane Holditch-Davis

  • 11School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Biological Research for Nursing
|May 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Male infants, especially those born very low birth weight preterm, show vulnerabilities. Prenatal testosterone and maternal stress may impact infant development and mother-infant interactions, requiring targeted nursing interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal biology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Maternal-infant health

Background:

  • Male infants, particularly very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants, exhibit increased vulnerability in health, cognitive development, and mother-infant interactions.
  • Existing research highlights these gender disparities, but underlying factors beyond sex remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on gender differences in infant health and development.
  • To propose a conceptual framework integrating biological, stress-related, and developmental factors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review to synthesize current research on gender differences in VLBW preterm infants.
  • Development of a psychobiosocial conceptual framework.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal exposure to high testosterone levels may negatively influence infant cognitive, motor, and language development.
  • A framework is proposed linking perinatal testosterone, maternal and infant cortisol, mother-infant interaction quality, and infant temperament.

Conclusions:

  • A psychobiosocial perspective integrating biophysiological and socioenvironmental factors offers a comprehensive view of gender differences.
  • Further research is needed to validate these associations and inform nursing interventions for mothers of VLBW preterm infants, especially males.
Abstract

Keywords:
cortisolgender differencesinfant developmentinfant healthmother–infant interactionsperinatal testosterone

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