Vittner Dorothy, McGrath Jacqueline, Robinson JoAnn, Lawhon Gretchen, Cusson Regina, Eisenfeld Leonard, Walsh Stephen, Young Erin, Cong Xiaomei
1 School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
2 Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA.
Biol Res Nurs. 2018 Jan;20(1):54-62. doi: 10.1177/1099800417735633. Epub 2017 Oct 11.
To examine changes that occur in infant and parent salivary oxytocin (OT) and salivary cortisol (SC) levels during skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and whether SSC alleviates parental stress and anxiety while also supporting mother-father-infant relationships.
This randomized crossover study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with a sample of 28 stable preterm infants and their parents. Saliva samples were collected from infants, mothers, and fathers on Days 1 and 2 (1/parent) for OT and cortisol measurement pre-SSC, during a 60-min SSC session, and a 45-min post-SSC. Parental anxiety was measured at the same time points. Parent-infant interaction was examined prior to discharge on Day 3 via video for synchrony and responsiveness using Dyadic Mutuality Coding.
Salivary OT levels increased significantly during SSC for mothers ( p < .001), fathers ( p < .002), and infants ( p < .002). Infant SC levels decreased significantly ( p < .001) during SSC as compared to before and after SSC. Parent anxiety scores were significantly related to parent OT and SC levels. Parents with higher OT levels exhibited more synchrony and responsiveness ( p < .001) in their infant interactions.
This study addresses a gap in understanding the mechanisms linking parent-infant contact to biobehavioral responses. SSC activated OT release and decreased infant SC levels. Facilitation of SSC may be an effective intervention to reduce parent and infant stress in the NICU. Findings advance the exploration of OT as a potential moderator for improving responsiveness and synchrony in parent-infant interactions.
研究在皮肤接触（SSC）过程中婴儿及父母唾液中催产素（OT）和唾液皮质醇（SC）水平的变化，以及SSC是否能缓解父母的压力和焦虑，同时促进母婴关系。
本随机交叉研究在新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）进行，样本包括28名状况稳定的早产儿及其父母。在第1天和第2天（每位家长一次）采集婴儿、母亲和父亲的唾液样本，用于在SSC前、60分钟的SSC过程中以及SSC后45分钟测量OT和皮质醇。在相同时间点测量父母的焦虑程度。在第3天出院前，通过视频使用二元互动编码检查母婴互动的同步性和反应性。
在SSC过程中，母亲（p <.001）、父亲（p <.002）和婴儿（p <.002）的唾液OT水平显著升高。与SSC前和SSC后相比，婴儿在SSC过程中的SC水平显著降低（p <.001）。父母的焦虑评分与父母的OT和SC水平显著相关。OT水平较高的父母在与婴儿互动中表现出更多的同步性和反应性（p <.001）。
本研究填补了在理解母婴接触与生物行为反应之间联系机制方面的空白。SSC激活了OT释放并降低了婴儿的SC水平。促进SSC可能是减轻NICU中父母和婴儿压力的有效干预措施。研究结果推进了对OT作为改善母婴互动反应性和同步性的潜在调节因子的探索。
