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Infant-mother attachment security and cortisol reactivity during the strange situation procedure: Longitudinal
Lauren R Bader1, Brenda L Volling1, Paige Safyer2
1Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, USA.
Neurobiology of Stress
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Infant attachment security influences hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation. Secure infant-mother attachment is linked to better cortisol stress responses, independent of maternal depression or infant temperament.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Maternal-Infant Health
Background:
- The early mother-infant relationship is crucial for development.
- Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation is key to stress response.
- Attachment security's impact on infant HPA axis function requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how infant-mother attachment security affects the HPA axis and cortisol stress responses in 14-month-old infants.
- To determine if maternal depressive symptoms or infant temperament moderate this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-two mother-infant dyads participated.
- Attachment security assessed via the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP).
- Salivary cortisol measured at four time points; maternal depression and infant temperament assessed longitudinally.
Main Results:
- Insecurely attached infants showed higher baseline cortisol, declining post-SSP.
- Securely attached infants had lower baseline cortisol with a trend toward increase post-stressor.
- Attachment security influenced infant cortisol trajectories independently of maternal depression or infant temperament.
Conclusions:
- Infant-mother attachment quality significantly shapes infant HPA axis regulation.
- Early identification and intervention for attachment difficulties can promote adaptive infant stress physiology.
- Findings highlight the importance of secure attachment for infant HPA axis development.
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