Antibiotic Consumption, Illness, and Maternal Sensitivity in Infants with a Disorganized Attachment
Marina Fuertes1,2, Anabela Faria3, Joana L Gonçalves4,5,6
1Centro de Psicologia, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
Insights
Infants with disorganized attachment paradoxically received more antibiotics despite fewer reported illnesses. This highlights how early high-risk relationships impact child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Health
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Prior research indicates a link between infant attachment styles and antibiotic use.
- Ambivalent attachment is associated with higher antibiotic consumption and lower maternal sensitivity.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for recognizing the interplay between psychological factors, early relationships, and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antibiotic use, mother-infant interaction, and health indicators in relation to infant attachment patterns, particularly disorganized attachment.
- To compare these factors between infants with disorganized attachment and those with other attachment styles.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of mother-infant interactive behavior during free play at nine months.
- Assessment of infant attachment using the Ainsworth Strange Situation at twelve months.
- Analysis of antibiotic use and reported illness frequency in the first nine months.
Main Results:
- Mothers of disorganized-attached infants reported fewer illnesses (1.56 vs. 5.73 times) but higher antibiotic use (61% vs. 54%) in the first nine months.
- Infants with disorganized attachment had mothers exhibiting higher literacy and lower sensitivity.
- Attachment patterns significantly correlate with health indicators and healthcare utilization.
Conclusions:
- Early high-risk attachment relationships, such as disorganized attachment, are associated with unique patterns of antibiotic use and maternal behavior.
- Findings underscore the multifaceted impact of early relational dynamics on child health and development.
- This research contributes to understanding how psychological and relational factors influence pediatric health outcomes.
Abstract:
Prior research found an association between mother-infant attachment and antibiotic use. Ambivalent-attached infants are more likely to take antibiotics than other infants, and their mothers tend to be less sensitive to their needs than most. This finding is important because it shows the association between psychological processes, early relationships, and health outcomes. We aim to learn about children with high-risk attachment relationships, such as disorganized-attached infants. This study compares antibiotic use, infant-mother interactive behavior, and health indicators according to infant attachment patterns (including disorganized attachment). For this purpose, we observed mothers-infants' interactive behavior in free play at nine months and infants' attachment in the Ainsworth Strange Situation at twelve months. Participants included 77 girls and 104 boys (full-term and preterm) and their mothers. Paradoxically, mothers of disorganized-attached infants reported that their children were ill only 1.56 times on average, but 61% of their children used antibiotics in the first nine months. The other mothers reported that their children were sick 5.73 times on average, but only 54% of their children used antibiotics in the same period. Infants with disorganized attachment had mothers who were more literate and less sensitive. These results add to a body of research that shows that early high-risk relationships affect children's lives at multiple levels.
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