Neurobiological Implications of Parent–Child Emotional Availability: A Review

Abstract

Parental influences are important for a child’s behavior, overall adjustment, as well as cognitive/language development. New research is exploring how relationships with parents can influence a child’s neurobiological functioning and development. In this systematic review, our first aim is to describe how the caregiving environment influences these aspects of child development. The second and main aim is to review and recommend that the concept (and measurement) of “emotional availability” may provide a new window in this continued exploration. Emotional availability (EA) refers to the capacity of a dyad to share an emotionally healthy relationship. The EA Scales assess this construct using a multi-dimensional framework, with a method to measure the affect and behavior of both the child and adult partner (caregiver). In this review, we first provide an overview of child development research, with regards to stress physiology, neuroendocrine system, genetics and epigenetics, and brain mechanisms. We then summarize the results of specific EA research in these areas, and propose a theoretical model integrating these constructs. Finally, we offer areas for future research in this area.

Emotional Availability in Mother-Child and Father-Child Interactions as Predictors of Child’s Attachment Representations in Adoptive Families

“…This is one of the most commonly used instruments for assessing the interactive quality of the parent-child dyad [9]. EAS is an observational system [9] that assesses the adult's (i.e., caregiver s) and child's EA, their behaviors, and affections [7]. This is a set of important aspects of the relationships that is displayed at a particular moment in time [9].…”

“…EAS can used in very different age groups (e.g., from pregnancy to 14 years) [9]. Interaction was coded according to a multidimensional framework [7] that integrates six scales assessing each of the six dimensions related with emotional regulation in the adult-child dyad; see [14,15], 4th edition. Four scales are used to assess the EA of the adult in relation to the child: sensitivity, structuring, non-intrusiveness, and non-hostility, and two assess the EA of the child in relation to the adult, namely, responsiveness and involvement [9].…”

“…Emotional availability (EA) is defined as a dyadic and relational construct, which refers to both the emotional quality of the relationship and the ability of each element of the dyad to affect the other element [6] in a systematic exchange of interactions loaded with communicative messages-verbal and non-verbal, active or passive, consistent or inconsistent-that create an interactive spiral. EA consists of the ability for dyadic partners to experience healthy emotional connections [7]. This construct is multidimensional [7].…”

“…EA consists of the ability for dyadic partners to experience healthy emotional connections [7]. This construct is multidimensional [7]. It integrates four adult dimensions (i.e., sensitivity, structuring, non-intrusiveness, and non-hostility) and two child dimensions (i.e., responsiveness and involvement) [8,9] (see Figure 1).…”

Emotional Availability: Clinical Populations and Clinical Applications

“…There is accumulating evidence that EA is associated with neurobiological functioning. The specifics of brain mechanisms and EA are an especially fascinating area of affective neuroscience and have recently been addressed in a separate review article focusing on this topic (Clark et al, 2021). To briefly summarize and highlight main topics, there is mounting evidence that EA is associated with stress physiology as measured by salivary cortisol (Kertes et al, 2009), hair cortisol concentrations (Senehi et al, 2021), skin conductance, and heart rate variability (Gilissen et al, 2008) and neurotransmitters, such as oxytocin (Mac-Kinnon et al, 2018) as well as genetics and/or epigenetics (e.g., Reichl et al, 2019).…”