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Associations between Family Functioning and Maternal Behavior on Default Mode Network Connectivity in School-Age
Keila Rebello1, Luciana Monteiro Moura1,2,3, Ana Paula Arantes Bueno1
1Center of Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André 09210-580, Brazil.
Insights
Family environment quality impacts children's brain connectivity. Higher conflict increased default mode network (DMN) connectivity, while cohesion, especially with positive maternal behavior, showed varied effects on DMN functional connectivity (FC).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- The family environment is crucial for child development outcomes.
- Limited research explores the link between family relationships and brain functional connectivity (FC) in the default mode network (DMN) in school-aged children.
- Maternal behavior and family dynamics may influence DMN FC by regulating children's affect and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between family environment quality, maternal behavior, and DMN functional connectivity (FC) in school-aged children.
- To explore how family cohesiveness, conflict, and maternal styles relate to intra-DMN connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 615 children (aged 6-12) in the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort (HRC) study.
- Assessment of DMN intra-connectivity between medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and inferior parietal lobule (IPL).
- Evaluation of family functioning (cohesiveness, conflict) and maternal behaviors (responsiveness, autonomy support, overprotection) using validated scales.
Main Results:
- Family environment quality correlated with DMN intra-connectivity.
- Higher family conflict was associated with increased FC between mPFC and left IPL (lIPL).
- Cohesive family functioning showed a negative correlation with PCC-lIPL connectivity, but this association was linked to increased DMN FC when moderated by positive maternal behavior.
Conclusions:
- The quality of the family environment is associated with variations in intrinsic default mode network (DMN) functional connectivity (FC) in children.
- Findings suggest that family dynamics and maternal interactions play a role in shaping neural connectivity patterns during development.
Abstract:
Background: Most early children's experiences will occur in a family context; therefore, the quality of this environment is critical for development outcomes. Not many studies have assessed the correlations between brain functional connectivity (FC) in important areas such as the default mode network (DMN) and the quality of parent-child relationships in school-age children and early adolescence. The quality of family relationships and maternal behavior have been suggested to modulate DMN FC once they act as external regulators of children's affect and behavior. Objective: We aimed to test the associations between the quality of family environment/maternal behavior and FC within the DMN of school-age children. Method: Resting-state, functional magnetic resonance imaging data, were collected from 615 children (6-12 age range) enrolled in the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort (HRC) study. We assessed DMN intra-connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and inferior parietal lobule (IPL-bilateral) regions. The family functioning was assessed by levels of family cohesiveness and conflict and by maternal behavior styles such as maternal responsiveness, maternal stimulus to the child's autonomy, and maternal overprotection. The family environment was assessed with the Family Environment Scale (FES), and maternal behavior was assessed by the mother's self-report. Results: We found that the quality of the family environment was correlated with intra-DMN FC. The more conflicting the family environment was, the greater the FC between the mPFC-left IPL (lIPL), while a more cohesive family functioning was negatively correlated with FC between the PCC-lIPL. On the other hand, when moderated by a positive maternal behavior, cohesive family functioning was associated with increased FC in both regions of the DMN (mPFC-lIPL and PCC-lIPL). Conclusions: Our results highlight that the quality of the family environment might be associated with differences in the intrinsic DMN FC.
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