Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

3.9K

Maternal Sensitivity: a Resilience Factor against Internalizing Symptoms in Early Adolescents Born Very Preterm?

Noémie Faure1, Stéphanie Habersaat2, Mathilde Morisod Harari2

  • 1Clinic of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Lausanne, Av. Pierre-Decker 2, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland. Noemie.Faure@chuv.ch.

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|August 31, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Maternal sensitivity in infancy acts as a protective factor for preterm children, reducing the risk of developing internalizing symptoms later in life. This early parenting behavior significantly impacts long-term developmental outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Preterm individuals face increased risks for internalizing symptoms throughout development compared to full-term peers.
  • Early maternal interactive behavior, particularly maternal sensitivity, is recognized as a crucial resilience factor for preterm children's development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term effects of early interactive parenting behaviors on internalizing symptoms in preterm-born young adolescents.
  • To determine if maternal sensitivity during infancy mitigates developmental risks associated with prematurity.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study followed 36 very preterm and 22 full-term children over 11 years.
  • Maternal interactive behavior, specifically maternal sensitivity, was assessed at 18 months postpartum.
  • Internalizing symptoms were evaluated at 11 years of age using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Main Results:

  • A significant interaction was found between group (preterm/full-term) and maternal sensitivity at 18 months in predicting internalizing symptoms at 11 years (β = -0.526, p < 0.05).
  • Preterm children with high maternal sensitivity showed no significant difference in internalizing problems compared to full-term peers.
  • Prematurity was associated with internalizing problems, but maternal sensitivity appeared to buffer this effect.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal sensitivity in early infancy serves as a significant long-term resilience factor for very preterm individuals.
  • Positive early maternal interactions can prevent the development of internalizing problems in preterm children during early adolescence.
  • Interventions focused on enhancing maternal sensitivity may be beneficial for improving long-term mental health outcomes in preterm populations.

Keywords:
Internalizing symptomsMaternal sensitivityPrematurityResilience factor

More Related Videos

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies01:37

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies

Published on: February 9, 2024

878
Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using PolyI:C to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring09:09

Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using PolyI:C to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring

Published on: August 17, 2022

2.4K

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
1.1K
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
314
Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
1.5K
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
779
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture01:27

Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
369
Cognitive Development During Adolescence01:18

Cognitive Development During Adolescence

During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
793