Maternal sensitivity to distress, attachment and the development of callous-unemotional traits in young children

Abstract

Background Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are characterized by a lack of responsiveness to the

Sex-dependent associations between maternal prenatal cortisol and child callous-unemotional traits: Findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study

“…We now have indications of a number of possible influences on the early development of CU traits, including low face preference (Bedford et al, 2015), low positive parenting (in particular, low sensitive responding, particularly to distress and low warmth; Wright et al, 2018), increased harsh parenting (Wagner et al, 2019), both higher (Mills-Koonce et al, 2015; Wagner et al, 2019) and lower (Willoughby et al, 2011; Waller et al, 2016) physiological and emotional reactivity, and now potentially female-specific prenatal glucocorticoid mediated influences. However, we do not yet understand whether these factors all contribute independently or in interaction and which are sex-dependant.…”

“…In this sample, CU traits were assessed using a combination of the Antisocial Processes Screening Device – Preschool Version (APSD; (Frick and Hare, 2001)) and items from the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL; (Achenbach and Rescorla, 2000)), the Brief Infant Toddler Assessment (BITSEA; (Briggs-Gowan et al, 2004)) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; (Goodman, 1997)). We have previously created CU traits latent factor scores at 2.5, 3.5 and 5.0 years (Wright et al, 2018) by subjecting items to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in MPlus (Muthén and Muthén, 2012). The items and their factor loadings are displayed in Table A1 (Appendix A in supplementary).…”

“…For this analysis, a latent variable was created from the factor scores from the three age time points to represent CU traits from 2.5 to 5.0 years. The summary statistics for this variable, and the associations between the three age points have been published previously (Wright et al, 2018). We also report the results from a multi-group (by child sex) measurement model for the three CU time points in Appendix B.…”

“…In spite of continuing uncertainties about how early CU traits become evident and can be measured, several studies have provided indications of very early vulnerabilities. Studies of infants have implicated lower face preference and less eye gaze with mothers, and also lower maternal sensitivity and positivity in the development of CU traits up to age 6.0 years (Bedford et al, 2015, 2017; Wright et al, 2018). These findings are consistent with evidence from studies of older children implicating both impaired eye contact and lower positive parenting (Dadds et al, 2012, 2014; Hawes et al, 2011).…”

Development and Design of a Nursing Intervention Following a Theory and Evidence-Based Approach to Promote Maternal Sensitivity and Preterm Infant Neurodevelopment in the NICU

“…Nevertheless, it appears there is no consensus regarding the latter statement as attachment is still reported to be less secure in preterm infants compared to term infants between the ages of 12 and 36 months (9). Moreover, early quality of caregiving and mother-infant relationship have systematically been identi ed as signi cant predictors of the preterm infant development (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). In fact, there is a weak but signi cant correlation between maternal sensitivity and preterm infant development even after controlling for breastfeeding (16).…”