Prenatal programming of emotion regulation : neonatal reactivity as a differential susceptibility factor moderating the outcome of prenatal cortisol levels

Bolten, Margarete; Nast, Irina; Skrundz, Marta; Stadler, Christina; Hellhammer, Dirk H.; Meinlschmidt, Gunther

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Prenatal programming of emotion regulation : neonatal reactivity as a differential susceptibility factor moderating the outcome of prenatal cortisol levels
Authors:	Bolten, Margarete Nast, Irina Skrundz, Marta Stadler, Christina Hellhammer, Dirk H. Meinlschmidt, Gunther
DOI:	10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014
Published in:	Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume(Issue):	75
Issue:	4
Page(s):	351
Pages to:	357
Issue Date:	2013
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0022-3999 1879-1360
Language:	English
Subjects:	Emotion-regulation; HPA axis; Infancy; NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale; Prenatal stress; Reactivity; Temperament; Area under the curve with respect to increase; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Adult; Biomarkers; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Saliva; Stress, Psychological; Emotions; Fetal Development; Pregnant Women
Subject (DDC):	150: Psychology 618: Gynecology, obstetrics and midwifery
Abstract:	Objective: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activation during pregnancy is linked to dysfunctional behavioral outcomes in the offspring. According to Belsky's differential susceptibility hypothesis, individuals vary regarding their developmental plasticity. Translating the differential susceptibility hypothesis to the field of fetal programming, we hypothesize that infants' temperament, as the constitutionally based reactivity to stimulation, moderates prenatal environmental effects on postnatal emotion regulation. Methods: Maternal HPA axis activity and stress-reactivity during pregnancy was estimated, by measuring cortisol concentrations in saliva, collected at 0, 30, 45 and 60 min after awakening and in blood, collected during a laboratory stress test (Trier Social Stress Test), respectively. Newborns reactivity to stimulation was evaluated between postnatal day 10 and 14 using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale. Infant's self-quieting-activities, as an indicator of emotion regulation, were evaluated at the age of six months during the still face paradigm. Results: Maternal cortisol reactivity to stress during pregnancy was associated with infant's emotion regulation at the age of six months. Whereas cortisol levels after awakening in mid and late pregnancy were not associated with emotion regulation. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that in interaction with neonatal reactivity, both, prenatal maternal HPA activity as well as prenatal maternal HPA reactivity to stress predicted emotion regulation. Conclusion: The findings indicate that newborns' reactivity to stimulation is moderating the association between prenatal exposure to maternal glucocorticoids and emotion regulation in infancy. Data suggests that temperamental characteristics of the newborn are a relevant differential susceptibility factor with regard to prenatal effects on emotion regulation.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/14513
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Physiotherapy (IPT)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Bolten, M., Nast, I., Skrundz, M., Stadler, C., Hellhammer, D. H., & Meinlschmidt, G. (2013). Prenatal programming of emotion regulation : neonatal reactivity as a differential susceptibility factor moderating the outcome of prenatal cortisol levels. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 75(4), 351–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014

Bolten, M. et al. (2013) ‘Prenatal programming of emotion regulation : neonatal reactivity as a differential susceptibility factor moderating the outcome of prenatal cortisol levels’, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 75(4), pp. 351–357. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014.

M. Bolten, I. Nast, M. Skrundz, C. Stadler, D. H. Hellhammer, and G. Meinlschmidt, “Prenatal programming of emotion regulation : neonatal reactivity as a differential susceptibility factor moderating the outcome of prenatal cortisol levels,” Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 351–357, 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014.

BOLTEN, Margarete, Irina NAST, Marta SKRUNDZ, Christina STADLER, Dirk H. HELLHAMMER und Gunther MEINLSCHMIDT, 2013. Prenatal programming of emotion regulation : neonatal reactivity as a differential susceptibility factor moderating the outcome of prenatal cortisol levels. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2013. Bd. 75, Nr. 4, S. 351–357. DOI 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014

Bolten, Margarete, Irina Nast, Marta Skrundz, Christina Stadler, Dirk H. Hellhammer, and Gunther Meinlschmidt. 2013. “Prenatal Programming of Emotion Regulation : Neonatal Reactivity as a Differential Susceptibility Factor Moderating the Outcome of Prenatal Cortisol Levels.” Journal of Psychosomatic Research 75 (4): 351–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014.

Bolten, Margarete, et al. “Prenatal Programming of Emotion Regulation : Neonatal Reactivity as a Differential Susceptibility Factor Moderating the Outcome of Prenatal Cortisol Levels.” Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol. 75, no. 4, 2013, pp. 351–57, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.04.014.