Browsing by Author "Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J."
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- Attachment goes to court: child protection and custody issuesPublication . Forslund, Tommie; Granqvist, Pehr; Van IJzendoorn, Marinus; Sagi-Schwartz, Avi; Glaser, Danya; Steele, Miriam; Hammarlund, Mårten; Schuengel, Carlo; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.; Steele, Howard; Shaver, Phillip R.; Lux, Ulrike; Simmonds, John; Jacobvitz, Deborah; Groh, Ashley; Bernard, Kristin; Cyr, Chantal; Hazen, Nancy; Foster, Sarah; Psouni, Elia; Cowan, Philip A.; Pape Cowan, Carolyn; Rifkin-Graboi, Anne; Wilkins, David; Pierrehumbert, Blaise; Tarabulsy, George M.; Cárcamo, Rodrigo; Wang, Zhengyan; Liang, Xi; Kazmierczak, Maria; Pawlicka, Paulina; Ayiro, Lilian; Kabali, Tamara Chansa; Sichimba, Francis; Mooya, Haatembo; McLean, Loyola; Veríssimo, Manuela; Gojman-de-Millán, Sonia; Moretti, Marlene M.; Bacro, Fabien; Peltola, Mikko; Galbally, Megan; Kondo-Ikemura, Kiyomi; Behrens, Kazuko Y.; Scott, Stephen; Fresno, Andrés; Spencer, Rosario; Posada, Germán; Cassibba, Rosalinda; Barrantes-Vidal, Neus; Palacios, Jesús; BARONE, LAVINIA; Madigan, Sheri; Jones-Mason, Karen; Reijman, Sophie; Juffer, Femmie; Pasco Fearon, R.; Bernier, Annie; Cicchetti, Dante; Reijman, Sophie; Cassidy, Jude; Kindler, Heinz; Zimmermann, Peter; Feldman, Ruth; Spangler, Gottfried; Zeanah, Charles; Dozier, Mary; Belsky, Jay; Lamb, Jason; Duschinsky, RobbieAttachment theory and research are drawn upon in many applied settings, including family courts, but misunderstandings are widespread and sometimes result in misapplications. The aim of this consensus statement is, therefore, to enhance understanding, counter misinformation, and steer family-court utilisation of attachment theory in a supportive, evidence-based direction, especially with regard to child protection and child custody decision-making. The article is divided into two parts. In the first, we address problems related to the use of attachment theory and research in family courts, and discuss reasons for these problems. To this end, we examine family court applications of attachment theory in the current context of the best-interest-of-the-child standard, discuss misunderstandings regarding attachment theory, and identify factors that have hindered accurate implementation. In the second part, we provide recommendations for the application of attachment theory and research. To this end, we set out three attachment principles: the child’s need for familiar, non-abusive caregivers; the value of continuity of good-enough care; and the benefits of networks of attachment relationships. We also discuss the suitability of assessments of attachment quality and caregiving behaviour to inform family court decision-making. We conclude that assessments of caregiver behaviour should take center stage. Although there is dissensus among us regarding the use of assessments o attachment quality to inform child custody and child-protection decisions, such assessments are currently most suitable for targeting and directing supportive interventions. Finally, we provide directions to guide future interdisciplinary research collaboration.
- Effects of a soft baby carrier on fathers’ behavior and hormones: A randomized controlled trialPublication . Verhees, Martine W. F. T.; Lotz, Anna M.; de Moor, Marleen H. M.; van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.; Fidder, Annabeth A. E. J.; Buisman, Renate S. M.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.Increased father–infant physical contact may promote early paternal caregiving. This randomized controlled trial, preregistered on https://osf.io/qwe3a , tested the effects of a soft baby carrier intervention on fathers’ parenting behavior and hormonal levels. Eighty first-time fathers of 2- to 4-month-old infants were randomly assigned to a baby carrier intervention group (n = 41 fathers) or a control group receiving an infant seat (n = 39 fathers). Fathers were instructed to use the baby carrier or seat for 3 weeks. Fathers’ sensitive parenting behavior, involvement, salivary oxytocin and cortisol basal levels and reactivity to interacting with the infant were assessed at pre-test (on average 2 weeks before the intervention) and at post-test (on average 1 week after the intervention period ended). The results showed that the intervention did not enhance fathers’ sensitive parenting or involvement. Involvement operationalized as hours spent with the infant decreased over time for fathers in the carrier condition compared to fathers in the control condition. The baby carrier intervention had no effect on fathers’ basal oxytocin or cortisol levels, nor did it affect fathers’ oxytocin or cortisol reactivity to interacting with their infant. Our findings indicate that 3 weeks of using a baby carrier does not have immediate beneficial effects on fathers’ parenting behavior or hormonal functioning as assessed here. Future research may examine whether infant carrying has beneficial effects on the longer term or in different groups of fathers, and how fathers’ infant carrying affects their infants.
- Genetic differences in reactivity to the environment impact psychotic-like and affective reactivity in daily life neusPublication . Barrantes-Vidal, Neus; Torrecilla, Pilar; Mas-Bermejo, Patricia; Papiol, Sergi; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.; Rosa, Araceli; Kwapi, Thomas R.Background and Hypothesis: Consistent with diathesisstress models, psychosis research has focused on genetic moderation of adverse environmental exposures. In contrast, the Differential Susceptibility (DS) model suggests that the same genetic variants that increase risk-inducing effects of adverse experiences also enhance benefcial effects from positive experiences. This study examined whether individuals with high genetic susceptibility to the environment showed differential psychotic-like and affective reactivity in response to positive and negative events in daily life. Study Design: Experience sampling methodology assessed context (positive and stressful) and momentary levels of paranoia, psychotic-like experiences (PLE), and positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) in 217 non-clinical adults oversampled for schizotypy. Linear mixed models examined whether Polygenic Risk Scores of Environmental Sensitivity (PRS-ES) moderated the impact of current context on subsequent experiences. Study Results: PRS-ES moderated positive, but not stressful, context on subsequent levels of momentary paranoia, NA, and PA, but not PLE. Genetic and environmental (G × E) interactions indicated diathesis-stress at lower thresholds of PRS-ES, but a DS model at the highest threshold of the PRS-ES. Participants with elevated PRS-ES showed increased paranoia and NA and decreased PA in subsequent assessments when reporting low levels of positive situations, but also decreased paranoia and NA and increased PA when rating contexts as positive. Conclusions: Findings support the infuence of genetic sensitivity to the environment on psychotic-like and affective reactivity in daily life, particularly in response to positive contexts. This highlights the transdiagnostic protective role of positive experiences and informs ecological momentary interventions.
- Genetic susceptibility to the environment moderates the impact of childhood experiences on psychotic, depressive, and anxiety dimensionsPublication . Barrantes-Vidal, Neus; Torrecilla, Pilar; Mas-Bermejo, Patricia; Papiol, Sergi; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.; Kwapil, Thomas R.; Rosa, AraceliBackground and Hypothesis: Consistent with diathesisstress models, psychosis research has focused on genetic moderation of adverse environmental exposures. In contrast, the Differential Susceptibility (DS) model suggests that the same genetic variants that increase risk-inducing effects of adverse experiences also enhance beneficial effects from positive experiences. This study examined whether individuals with high genetic susceptibility to the environment showed differential psychotic-like and affective reactivity in response to positive and negative events in daily life. Study Design: Experience sampling methodology assessed context (positive and stressful) and momentary levels of paranoia, psychotic-like experiences (PLE), and positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) in 217 non-clinical adults oversampled for schizotypy. Linear mixed models examined whether Polygenic Risk Scores of Environmental Sensitivity (PRS-ES) moderated the impact of current context on subsequent experiences. Study Results: PRS-ES moderated positive, but not stressful, context on subsequent levels of momentary paranoia, NA, and PA, but not PLE. Genetic and environmental (G × E) interactions indicated diathesis-stress at lower thresholds of PRS-ES, but a DS model at the highest threshold of the PRS-ES. Participants with elevated PRS-ES showed increased paranoia and NA and decreased PA in subsequent assessments when reporting low levels of positive situations, but also decreased paranoia and NA and increased PA when rating contexts as positive. Conclusions: Findings support the influence of genetic sensitivity to the environment on psychotic-like and affective reactivity in daily life, particularly in response to positive contexts. This highlights the transdiagnostic protective role of positive experiences and informs ecological momentary interventions.
- Impact of parity and salivary hormonal levels on motivation toward infant emotions.Publication . Sinisalo, Hanneli; Hahn, Amanda C.; Jones, Benedict C.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.; Peltola, Mikko J.Infant faces have been shown to be particularly motivating stimuli for women. No studies, however, have compared mothers and nonmothers in whether parity modulates approach motivation toward emotional infant faces. We studied 54 Finnish first-time mothers and 42 nonmothers in a pay-per-view key-press task wheretheparticipants wereshown20infantfaceswithsmilingandcryingexpressions.Participantswere able to adjust the time each face was visible. In addition, salivary testosterone, estradiol, and cortisol levels were measured and their impact on motivation toward infants analyzed. When controlling for the hormonal levels, happy infant faces were viewed longer than crying faces and there was no difference in mean viewing times between mothers and nonmothers. An interaction between parity and emotion emerged: Mothers were more motivated to view happy faces and less motivated to view crying infant faces than nonmothers. Testosterone had a significant effect on viewing times: The higher the testosterone levels were, the shorter amount of time infant faces were viewed. This indicates that testosterone is inversely associated with approach motivation to emotional infant stimuli. This study is the first to compare mothers and nonmothers in a task measuring motivational responses to infant stimuli and indicates that the difference between the approach motivation caused by happy and distressed infant emotions might be more heightened in new mothers.
- Neural processing of cry sounds in the transition to fatherhood: Effects of a prenatal intervention program and associations with paternal caregivingPublication . Thijssen, Sandra; Alyousefi-van Dijk, Kim; De Waal, Noor; Van IJzendoorn, Marinus; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.This study examined whether neural processing of infant cry sounds changes across the transition to fatherhood (i.e., from the prenatal to postnatal period), and examined whether an interaction-based prenatal intervention modulated these changes. Furthermore, we explored whether postnatal activation in brain regions showing transition or intervention effects was associated with sensitive care and involvement. In a randomized controlled trial, 73 first-time expectant fathers were enrolled, of whom 59 had at least 1 available fMRI scan. Intervention and transition effects on cry processing were analyzed in the amygdala and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) using linear mixed effect models with all available data and with intent-to-treat analyses. Further, exploratory whole-brain analyses were performed. ROI analyses suggest that the transition to fatherhood is characterized by decreasing activation in response to cry vs control sounds in the amygdala but not SFG. Exploratory whole-brain analyses also show a decrease in activation over the transition to fatherhood in the sensorimotor cortex, superior lateral occipital cortex, hippocampus, and regions of the default mode network. In the putamen and insula, larger decreases were found in fathers with more adverse childhood caregiving experiences. In regions showing transitional changes, higher postnatal activation was associated with more concurrent parenting sensitivity. No effects of the intervention were found. The decrease in activation from the pre- to postnatal period may reflect fathers’ habituation to cry sounds over repeated exposures. The positive association between postnatal neural activation and paternal sensitive care suggest that continued sensitivity to cry sounds may be conducive to parenting quality.
- Secure base script knowledge and video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting-sensitive disciplinePublication . Witte, Annemieke M.; Runze, Jana; van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.This preregistered randomized controlled study investigated the effects of Video-Feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) on parents’ secure base script knowledge (SBSK). Furthermore, we examined whether effects of VIPP-SD on sensitive caregiving and sensitive discipline behavior and parents’ attitudes toward these behaviors were moderated by SBSK at baseline. Families (n = 445) with preand school-aged children (n = 890) were randomized to receive VIPP-SD or telephone calls. Results showed no effects of VIPP-SD on SBSK. Furthermore, there was no moderation of effects on sensitive caregiving or sensitive discipline behavior by SBSK. VIPP-SD promoted positive attitudes toward sensitive caregiving and sensitive discipline behavior. The latter effect was moderated by SBSK: parents with lower SBSK showed the strongest improvements in positive attitudes toward sensitive discipline behavior. This effect was driven by a subgroup of younger children. These findings highlight the potential importance of tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of parents with varying levels of SBSK
- Sensitive responsiveness in expectant and new fathersPublication . Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.; Van IJzendoorn, MarinusFathers have an increasingly important role in the family and contribute through their sensitive responsiveness to positive child development. Research on parenting more often included fathers as caregivers in the past two decades. We present a neurobiological model of sensitive responsive parenting with a role for fathers’ hormonal levels and neural connectivity and processing of infant signals. We tested this model in a research program (“Father Trials”) with correlational and randomized experimental studies, and we review the results of these studies. So far, interaction-focused behavioral interventions seem most promising in supporting fathers’ sensitive responsiveness, even though the mechanisms are still uncharted.