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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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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

Implications of mothers' adult attachment for dynamic change in physiological arousal and regulation and maternal

Esther M Leerkes1, Shourya Negi1, Yu Chen1

  • 1Human Development and Family Studies, Greensboro, NC, USA.

Attachment & Human Development
|July 23, 2026
PubMed

We examined indirect effects of mothers' attachment states of mind on maternal sensitivity via dynamic change in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and skin conductance level (SCL). Participants were 259 mother-infant dyads. Adult attachment was assessed via the Adult Attachment Interview during pregnancy. Maternal RSA, SCL, and sensitivity were measured during the Still Face Procedure (SFP) at 6 months. Coherence was associated with higher mean SCL and marginally greater dynamic change in SCL across the SFP. Dismissing states of mind were associated with greater mean level and dynamic variability in SCL, and the latter was associated with higher sensitivity. There was an indirect effect of dismissing states of mind on lower maternal sensitivity via less dynamic change in RSA. There were no significant effects related to preoccupation or RSA. Results indicate that a dismissing state of mind places mothers at risk for insensitivity by dampening their arousal in attachment-relevant situations.

Keywords:
Adult attachmentautonomic reactivitymaternal sensitivityskin conductancevagal withdrawal

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