Maternal alexithymic traits, prenatal stress, and infant temperament

T Kantonen; L Karlsson; S Nolvi; M Karukivi; M Tolvanen; H Karlsson

doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.06.013

Maternal alexithymic traits, prenatal stress, and infant temperament

Infant Behav Dev. 2015 Nov:41:12-6. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.06.013. Epub 2015 Aug 8.

Authors

T Kantonen¹, L Karlsson², S Nolvi¹, M Karukivi³, M Tolvanen⁴, H Karlsson⁵

Affiliations

¹ FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
² FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Satakunta Hospital District, Psychiatric Care Division, Harjavalta, Finland.
⁴ FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
⁵ FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Turku, Finland.

PMID: 26263082
DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.06.013

Abstract

We aimed at investigating, whether maternal alexithymia or prenatal anxiety influences infant temperament (Infant Temperament Questionnaire, IBQ) at six months. Maternal alexithymic trait of "Difficulty in Identifying Feelings" predicted higher infant "Duration of Orienting". "Fear of Bearing a Handicapped Child" predicted lower infant "Activity Level".

Keywords: Alexithymia; Anxiety; Infants; Prenatal; Temperament.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Affective Symptoms / psychology*
Anxiety / psychology
Children with Disabilities
Cohort Studies
Educational Status
Female
Humans
Individuality
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Maternal Age
Motor Activity
Orientation
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / psychology*
Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Temperament*
Young Adult