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Suboptimal bonding impairs hormonal, epigenetic and neuronal development in preterm infants, but these impairments

D Kommers1,2, G Oei3,4, W Chen2

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Máxima Medical Centre Veldhoven, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|November 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Suboptimal bonding in preterm infants impairs hormonal, epigenetic, and neuronal development. However, early bonding interventions can reverse these negative effects, highlighting their importance in neonatal care.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Development
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Medicine

Background:

  • Preterm infants face numerous unnatural stimuli, including hypoxia-ischaemia, infection, and malnutrition.
  • Suboptimal bonding is another significant stressor impacting preterm infants' physiological development.
  • The physiological consequences of suboptimal bonding are underrepresented in scientific literature compared to other adverse stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To increase awareness of the detrimental effects of suboptimal bonding in premature infants.
  • To review the physiological consequences of impaired bonding in the context of prematurity.
  • To emphasize the need for further research and clinical attention on bonding in neonatal intensive care.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review.
  • Analysis of existing studies on infant development and bonding.
  • Synthesis of findings on physiological impairments related to suboptimal bonding.

Main Results:

  • Suboptimal bonding was found to significantly impair hormonal development.
  • Epigenetic development is negatively affected by suboptimal bonding.
  • Neuronal development in preterm infants is compromised due to inadequate bonding.

Conclusions:

  • Impairments in hormonal, epigenetic, and neuronal development due to suboptimal bonding are reversible.
  • Bonding interventions demonstrate efficacy in mitigating negative developmental outcomes.
  • Neonatal intensive care units should prioritize and implement interventions to optimize infant-parent bonding.
Abstract

Keywords:
BondingDevelopmentNeonatal intensive care unitParentPreterm infant

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