Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 7, 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

3.5K

Associations between parental stress, parent-infant bonding, and infant neuromotor functioning

L C Span1, E M Rodenboog1, N H van Dokkum1

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Early Human Development
|January 4, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Parental stress and parent-infant bonding did not impact infant neurodevelopment at three months. This suggests interventions for parental stress or bonding issues may have a broader window for effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • The early developing brain is sensitive to environmental factors.
  • Parental stress and parent-infant bonding are linked to later neurodevelopmental delays.
  • The precise age at which these factors influence development is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between parental stress, parent-infant bonding, and infant neurodevelopment at three months of age.
  • To identify potential early intervention targets for neurodevelopmental delays.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 339 parent-infant dyads from the Dutch TRAILS-NEXT cohort.
  • Parental stress (NOSI-K) and bonding (PBQ) assessed at 3 months.
  • Infant neurodevelopment assessed via General Movement Assessment (GMA) and Motor Optimality score - Revised (MOS-R).

Main Results:

  • No significant correlations found between parental stress, bonding, and infant motor optimality scores.
  • Regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, showed no significant relationships between parental bonding/stress and general movement characteristics.
  • Elevated parental stress was observed in 7% of mothers and 18% of partners.

Conclusions:

  • Parental stress and parent-infant bonding were not associated with infant neurodevelopment at three months.
  • Findings suggest a wider window for interventions targeting parental stress or bonding issues.
  • Other factors likely influence individual differences in early motor development.
Abstract

Keywords:
General movement assessmentGeneral movementsMotor Optimality score – RevisedNeurodevelopmentParent-infant bondingParental stressPerinatal risk factors

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

87.5K
A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

810

Related Concept Videos

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...
206
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
398
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
455
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
48.6K
Physiological Foundation of Stress01:24

Physiological Foundation of Stress

Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
509
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings01:29

Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings

Other adult family members and siblings play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional development. While parents or primary caregivers are often the central figures in early attachment and socialization, other adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can significantly influence developmental outcomes. These influences depend on each adult’s personality and may help compensate when a primary caregiver is emotionally distant or...
152