Yale University, Department of Psychology, 2 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, 06520, CT, USA.
Yale University , Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2021 Mar;49(3):381-392. doi: 10.1007/s10802-020-00744-2. Epub 2021 Jan 6.
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays a central role in the regulation of affiliative bonds and anxiety. However, the degree to which its levels are synchronized between interaction partners has not yet been assessed. Physiological synchrony assessed using other peripheral measures (e.g., heart rate, etc.) has been tied to positive outcomes for the individual and the dyad. The present study examined OT synchrony in the context of child anxiety and maternal depression by examining mother-child dyads. Mothers and their children with anxiety disorders participated in a behavioral interaction task. Changes in OT levels and mother-child OT synchrony before and after the interaction, as well as their moderation by maternal depression, were assessed. Ninety-eight youth with anxiety disorders (ages 10 to 17) and their mothers underwent psychiatric evaluation, and mothers rated their own depressive symptoms and their children's behavior problems. Salivary OT was assayed from mother and child before and after the task. Behavioral coding showed that interactions were characterized by high behavioral synchrony between mothers and their children, and both individuals displayed higher levels of positive vs. negative affect during the interactions. Mothers and their children also showed decreases in OT levels after the interaction. As hypothesized, OT synchrony increased following the task, but only dyads in which mothers showed high levels of depressive symptoms showed this increase. As hypothesized, lower levels of OT-synchrony were associated with higher levels of child internalizing symptoms. The findings suggest that positive interactions may be beneficial for youth with anxiety disorders with mothers with depression.
神经肽催产素（OT）在调节亲和关系和焦虑方面起着核心作用。然而，其在相互作用的伙伴之间的同步程度尚未得到评估。使用其他外周测量方法（例如心率等）评估的生理同步性与个体和对偶的积极结果有关。本研究通过检查母子对来检查儿童焦虑和母亲抑郁背景下的 OT 同步性。患有焦虑症的母亲及其子女参加了行为互动任务。在互动之前和之后评估了 OT 水平和母子 OT 同步性的变化，以及它们是否受到母亲抑郁的调节。98 名患有焦虑症的青少年（年龄 10 至 17 岁）及其母亲接受了精神病学评估，母亲评估了自己的抑郁症状和孩子的行为问题。在任务之前和之后从母亲和孩子身上检测了唾液 OT。行为编码显示，互动的特点是母亲和孩子之间的行为高度同步，而且两个人在互动期间表现出更高的积极情绪而不是消极情绪。互动后，母亲和孩子的 OT 水平也下降。正如假设的那样，OT 同步性在任务后增加，但只有母亲表现出高水平抑郁症状的对偶体显示出这种增加。正如假设的那样，OT 同步性较低与儿童内化症状水平较高有关。研究结果表明，积极的互动可能对患有抑郁症的焦虑症青年有益。
