Couples’ Empathy as a Predictor of Sensitive Responsiveness towards Infant Crying - Mediational Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin levels (the HEART study): an experimental study protocol (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kaźmierczak ◽  
Paulina Pawlicka ◽  
Paulina Anikiej ◽  
Ariadna B Łada ◽  
Bogumiła Kiełbratowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Infant Cry ◽  
Parental Sensitivity ◽  
Parental Responsiveness ◽  
Infant Crying ◽  
Heart Study ◽  
Mediational Role

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Sensitive responsiveness refers to parents’ ability to recognize and respond to infants’ cues and is one of the central aspects of early parenting. Sensitivity to infant cry supports child’s survival and is the most apparent early attachment behavior. Sensitive responsiveness to child’s needs has been linked to parental empathy. Additionally, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hormones important for sensitivity and empathy. Research on parental responsiveness indicates focus on mothers, and studies on parents-to-be are lacking. The aim of the HEART study is to test the direct and indirect (through OT and AVP levels) links between dispositional empathy and responsiveness to a life-like doll crying in couples and to verify whether these factors are predictors of responsiveness to own ’child’s cues. Exploratory analyses include predictors of sensitive responsiveness: polymorphisms of OXTR, AVPR1a and CD38 genes, personal characteristics (attachment style, temperament) and relational factors (perception of partners and own parents). Methods: The HEART project employs standardized experimental settings that can be used with nonparents and – the assessment of parental sensitive responsiveness towards their child. The participants are couples becoming parents for the first time (111) and childless couples (110) in Poland. The procedure involves the caretaking of a life-like doll (three 10-min episodes: each partner individually and a couple), which cries as programmed during the interaction. Salivary samples and questionnaire data are collected in a planned manner. In the second part of the project’, the expectant couples are invited for the assessment of the parental sensitivity to own child (free play episodes with each parent). Parental sensitivity is assessed using the observational Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale. Discussion: This paper presents an interdisciplinary research project that analyses the roots of the role of empathy in displaying parental sensitive responsiveness. HEART methodologically reaches beyond the questionnaire measurement, controls many factors influencing the dynamics of adult-infant interaction and focuses on the crying signal. By examining parental sensitive responsiveness of expectant couples towards their own ’child’s cues we uniquely explore the validity of the experimental design with a life-like doll. Trial registration: osf.io/ Identifier: osf.io/z5682.

scholarly journals Empathy and Hormonal Changes as Predictors of Sensitive Responsiveness towards Infant Crying: A Study Protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4815
Author(s):  
Maria Kaźmierczak ◽  
Paulina Pawlicka ◽  
Paulina Anikiej-Wiczenbach ◽  
Ariadna B. Łada-Maśko ◽  
Bogumiła Kiełbratowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Questionnaire Data ◽  
Parental Sensitivity ◽  
Infant Crying ◽  
First Child ◽  
Relational Factors ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research Project ◽  
Dispositional Empathy

Sensitive responsiveness refers to parents’ ability to recognize and respond to infants’ cues and has been linked to parental empathy. Additionally, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hormones important for sensitivity and empathy. The aim of this study is to test the links between dispositional empathy along with changing OT and AVP levels and responsiveness to a life-like doll in couples and to verify whether these factors are predictors of responsiveness to a child’s cues. Exploratory analyses include predictors of sensitive responsiveness: polymorphisms of OXTR, AVPR1a and CD38 genes, personal characteristics and relational factors. The project employs standardized experimental settings that can be used with non-parents and the assessment of parental sensitive responsiveness towards their child. The participants are couples expecting their first child (111) and childless couples (110). The procedure involves caretaking of a life-like doll. Salivary samples and questionnaire data are collected in a planned manner. In the second part, the expectant couples are invited for the assessment of their sensitivity to their own child (Free Play episodes). Parental sensitivity is assessed using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale. This paper presents an interdisciplinary research project that reaches beyond the questionnaire measurement, considering many factors influencing the dynamics of adult–infant interaction.

Infant crying in hunter-gatherer cultures

2004 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillary N. Fouts ◽  
Michael E. Lamb ◽  
Barry S. Hewlett
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Honest Signaling ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Infant Cry ◽  
Parental Responsiveness ◽  
Infant Crying ◽  
Innovative Model

By synthesizing evolutionary, attachment, and acoustic perspectives, Soltis has provided an innovative model of infant cry acoustics and parental responsiveness. We question some of his hypotheses, however, because of the limited extant data on infant crying among hunter-gatherers. We also question Soltis' distinction between manipulative and honest signaling based upon recent contributions from attachment theory.

Examining the Role of Language in Play Among Children With and Without Developmental Disabilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Short ◽  
Rachael Cooper Schindler ◽  
Rita Obeid ◽  
Maia M. Noeder ◽  
Laura E. Hlavaty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Play Skills ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Better Than

Purpose Play is a critical aspect of children's development, and researchers have long argued that symbolic deficits in play may be diagnostic of developmental disabilities. This study examined whether deficits in play emerge as a function of developmental disabilities and whether our perceptions of play are colored by differences in language and behavioral presentations. Method Ninety-three children participated in this study (typically developing [TD]; n = 23, developmental language disorders [DLD]; n = 24, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]; n = 26, and autism spectrum disorder [ASD]; n = 20). Children were videotaped engaging in free-play. Children's symbolic play (imagination, organization, elaboration, and comfort) was scored under conditions of both audible language and no audible language to assess diagnostic group differences in play and whether audible language impacted raters' perception of play. Results Significant differences in play were evident across diagnostic groups. The presence of language did not alter play ratings for the TD group, but differences were found among the other diagnostic groups. When language was audible, children with DLD and ASD (but not ADHD) were scored poorly on play compared to their TD peers. When language was not audible, children with DLD were perceived to play better than when language was audible. Conversely, children with ADHD showed organizational deficits when language was not available to support their play. Finally, children with ASD demonstrated poor play performance regardless of whether language was audible or not. Conclusions Language affects our understanding of play skills in some young children. Parents, researchers, and clinicians must be careful not to underestimate or overestimate play based on language presentation. Differential skills in language have the potential to unduly influence our perceptions of play for children with developmental disabilities.

Everybody Follows the Crowd?

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Obermaier ◽  
Thomas Koch ◽  
Christian Baden
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Election Campaigns ◽  
Bandwagon Effect ◽  
Political News ◽  
Election Results ◽  
Opinion Polls ◽  
Electoral Preferences

Abstract. Opinion polls are a well-established part of political news coverage, especially during election campaigns. At the same time, there has been controversial debate over the possible influences of such polls on voters’ electoral choices. The most prominent influence discussed is the bandwagon effect: It states that voters tend to support the expected winner of an upcoming election, and use polls to determine who the likely winner will be. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect. In addition, we inquired into the role of past electoral performances of a candidate and analyzed how these (as well as polls) are used as heuristic cues for the assessment of a candidate’s personal characteristics. Using an experimental design, we found that both polls and past election results influence participants’ expectations regarding which candidate will succeed. Moreover, higher competence was attributed to a candidate, if recipients believe that the majority of voters favor that candidate. Through this attribution of competence, both information about prior elections and current polls shaped voters’ electoral preferences.

Mediational role of delinquent peer affiliations in understanding adolescent delinquency

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Guelker ◽  
Lisa A. Ansel ◽  
Christopher T. Barry ◽  
Erin E. Bomar ◽  
Lauren McDougald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Delinquency ◽  
Delinquent Peer ◽  
Peer Affiliations ◽  
Mediational Role

Smolensk Proper Names in A.T. Tvardovsky’s Poems

2020 ◽  
pp. 54-62
Author(s):  
Inna A. Koroleva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Proper Names ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Literary Works ◽  
Thematic Content ◽  
Home Town ◽  
Birthday Anniversary ◽  
Long Poems ◽  
First Time

This article is dedicated to the 110th birthday anniversary of a great Russian poet, native of Smolensk, one of the founders of the Smolensk Poetic School Aleksandr Tvardovsky (1910–1971). It examines how Smolensk motifs and Tvardovsky’s love for his home town are reflected in his works at the onomastic level. Smolensk-onyms reflected in long poems are analysed here, the focus being on anthroponyms and toponyms naming the characters and indicating the locations associated with Smolensk region. A close connection between the choice of proper names and Tvardovsky’s biography is established. An attempt is made to demonstrate how, using onomastic units introduced by the author into the storyline of his artistic text, the general principles of autobiography and chronotopy are realized, which have been noted earlier in critiques of Tvardovsky’s literary works. The onomastic component of the poems is analysed thoroughly and comprehensively, which helps us to decode the conceptual chain writer – name – text – reader and identify the author’s attitude to the characters and the ideological and thematic content of the works, as well as some of the author’s personal characteristics, tastes and passions. At the onomastic level, the thesis about the role of Smolensk motifs in Tvardovsky’s literary works is once more substantiated. A review is presented of onomastic studies analysing proper names of different categories in Tvardovsky’s poems (mainly conducted by the representatives of the Voronezh Onomastic School and the author of this article). It should be noted that Smolensk proper names in the entire body of Tvardovsky’s poetry are analysed for the first time.

Maternal and paternal unsupportive parenting and children's externalizing symptoms: The mediational role of children's attention biases to negative emotion

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Patrick T. Davies ◽  
Morgan J. Thompson ◽  
Jesse L. Coe ◽  
Melissa L. Sturge-Apple
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Family Adversity ◽  
Children's Attention ◽  
Specific Association ◽  
Mediational Role ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract This study examined children's duration of attention to negative emotions (i.e., anger, sadness, fear) as a mediator of associations among maternal and paternal unsupportive parenting and children's externalizing symptoms in a sample of 240 mothers, fathers, and their preschool children (Mage = 4.64 years). The multimethod, multi-informant design consisted of three annual measurement occasions. Analysis of maternal and paternal unsupportive parenting as predictors in latent difference changes in children's affect-biased attention and behavior problems indicated that children's attention to negative emotions mediated the specific association between maternal unsupportive parenting and children's subsequent increases in externalizing symptoms. Maternal unsupportive parenting at Wave 1 predicted decreases in children's attention to negative facial expressions of adults from Wave 1 to 2. Reductions in children's attention to negative emotion, in turn, predicted increases in their externalizing symptoms from Wave 1 to 3. Additional tests of children's fearful distress and hostile responses to parental conflict as explanatory mechanisms revealed that increases in children's fearful distress reactivity from Wave 1 to 2 accounted for the association between maternal unsupportive parenting and concomitant decreases in their attention to negative emotions. Results are discussed in the context of information processing models of family adversity and developmental psychopathology.

Attachment Insecurities and Sexual Coercion in Same- and Cross-Gender Couples: The Mediational Role of Couple Communication Patterns

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Caroline Dugal ◽  
Audrey Brassard ◽  
Aurélie Claing ◽  
Audrey-Ann Lefebvre ◽  
Ariane Audet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
Communication Patterns ◽  
Couple Communication ◽  
Mediational Role

scholarly journals The Mediating Role of Engagement on the Achievement and Quality of Life of University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6586
Author(s):  
Inmaculada García-Martínez ◽  
José María Augusto Landa ◽  
Samuel P. León
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mediational Role ◽  
The Relationship

(1) Background: Academic engagement has been reported in the literature as an important factor in the academic achievement of university students. Other factors such as emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience have also been related to students’ performance and quality of life. The present study has two clearly delimited and interrelated objectives. First, to study the mediational role that engagement plays in the relationship between EI and resilience on quality of life. Secondly, and similarly, to study the mediational role of engagement in the relationship between EI and resilience, but in this case on academic achievement. (2) Methods: For this purpose, four scales frequently used in the literature to measure emotional intelligence, resilience, academic engagement and quality of life were administered to 427 students of the University of Jaén undertaking education degrees. In addition, students were asked to indicate their current average mark as a measure of academic performance. Two mediational models based on structural equations were proposed to analyse the relationships between the proposed variables. (3) Results: The results obtained showed that emotional intelligence and resilience directly predicted students’ life satisfaction, but this direct relationship did not result in academic performance. In addition, and assuming a finding not found so far, engagement was shown to exert an indirect mediational role for both life satisfaction and academic performance of students. (4) Conclusions: The findings of the study support the importance of engagement in the design and development of instructional processes, as well as in the implementation of any initiative.

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