Infant Nutrition and 12 and 18 Months Secure Base Behavior: An Exploratory Study
Theodore D Wachs1, German Posada2, Olga A Carbonell3
1Department of Psychological Sciences Purdue University.
Insights
Early infant nutrition, including micronutrient status, is linked to infant attachment behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of nutrition beyond severe malnutrition for healthy infant development and bonding.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Limited research exists on the link between early nutrition and infant attachment.
- Previous studies focused on physical growth and severe malnutrition, overlooking micronutrient deficiencies.
- This study addresses the gap by examining multiple nutritional markers and attachment in a low-income population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between multiple infant nutritional markers and infant attachment.
- To determine if these associations extend beyond severely malnourished infants.
- To explore the relationship between nutritional status and specific attachment behaviors.
Main Methods:
- 172 Peruvian infants (12 months) and mothers from low-income families participated.
- Nutritional status assessed via anthropometry, dietary intake, and iron status.
- Attachment markers (secure base behavior, interaction quality, negative emotionality) rated using Q-sort techniques.
- Follow-up assessment at 18 months on 77 infants.
Main Results:
- Infant weight at 12 months positively correlated with mother-infant interaction quality.
- Infant iron status at 18 months positively correlated with secure base behavior.
- Associations remained significant after controlling for socioeconomic status and maternal education.
Conclusions:
- Infant nutritional status, including micronutrient status, is associated with infant attachment markers.
- These links are present even in infants without severe malnutrition.
- Findings underscore the critical role of nutrition in early socio-emotional development.
Abstract:
A notable omission in studies of developmental links to early nutritional deficiencies is infant attachment. In those few studies investigating associations between infant nutrition and attachment, nutrition was defined solely by physical growth, and infants had moderate-severe growth retardation. In this study, we utilized multiple markers of infant nutrition. Our sample consisted of 172 12-month-old Peruvian infants and their mothers from low-income families, with a follow-up assessment on 77 infants at 18 months. Infants were not severely malnourished, but did have micronutrient deficiencies. Anthropometry, dietary intake, and iron status were used as measures of infant nutrition. Based on infant behavior in a structured laboratory situation, Q-sort techniques were used to rate three attachment markers: infant secure base behavior, interaction quality, and negative emotionality with mother. At 12 months, infant weight was positively related to interaction quality. At 18 months, infant iron status was positively related to secure base behavior. This pattern of findings remained even after statistically controlling for family socioeconomic status and maternal education. Our findings indicate that infant nutritional status is associated with markers of infant attachment and these associations are not restricted just to severely malnourished infants.
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