Citation

Haselbeck C, Niederberger U, Gubi-Kelm S, Jahn F, Dautwiz F, Siniatchkin M. Z. Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother. 2019; 47(3): 239-251.

Affiliation

Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus, Kiel, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Verlag Hans Huber)

DOI

10.1024/1422-4917/a000606

PMID

30080118

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Secure attachment style is a known protective factor regarding psychopathological development. The infant's attachment style, which is developed during the first two years of life, is therefore considered a moderating factor on the association between prenatal maternal distress and child temperament development which has repeatedly been reported in previous studies.

METHOD: In this longitudinal study on a new sample of 51 mother-child-dyads, reported maternal distress and maternal empathy were assessed during pregnancy. Infant temperament and motor development were assessed at 12 months, while additionally controlling for the infant's attachment style as a postnatal factor.

RESULTS: Infants with secure attachment style whose mothers had experienced higher prenatal distress showed slightly better gross motor development at the age of 12 months. No association could be found between prenatal maternal distress and infant temperament.

CONCLUSIONS: The results support the view that secure attachment style in children is a protective factor and softens the effects of prenatal maternal distress on difficult temperament development.

Language: en

Keywords

Bindungsstil; Prenatal distress; Pränataler Stress; child attachment; fetal programming; fetale Programmierung; frühkindliche Entwicklung; frühkindliches Temperament; infant development; infant temperament