Characteristics of Early Mother–Infant and Father–Infant Interactions: A Comparison between Assisted Reproductive Technology and Spontaneous Conceiving Parents

Francesca Agostini, Federica Andrei, Erica Neri, Elena Trombini, Francesca Nuccini, Maria Teresa Villani, Lorenzo Aguzzoli and Marcella Paterlini
Additional contact information
Francesca Agostini: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Federica Andrei: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Erica Neri: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Elena Trombini: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Francesca Nuccini: Department of Neonatology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Maria Teresa Villani: Center of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Lorenzo Aguzzoli: Center of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Marcella Paterlini: Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: This study aims to describe parents’ and infant’s interactive styles after assisted reproduction treatments (ART), to compare them with parent–infant interactions after spontaneous conception (SC), and to assess the effect of specific ART variables (cause of infertility, treatment type, and previous ART attempts) on interaction quality. The sample included 25 ART conceiving couples and 31 SC couples with their 3-months-old babies. Free parent–infant interactions (3–5 min) were coded using the CARE-Index, a video-based assessment scale that gives both dimensional (e.g., sensitivity, control, passivity) and categorical scores (sensitive, inept, at-risk) for parents and infants. Results showed a global similarity between groups in CARE-Index dimensions. Nevertheless, differences emerged in categorical scores, as the interactive patterns of ART parents were more frequently classified as “inept” and “at-risk” compared to SC parents. With regards to ART dyads only, infants conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection scored significantly lower to the dimension compulsivity and higher to passivity, compared to infants conceived through in vitro fertilization. Yet, infants conceived at the first ART cycle had significantly lower levels of difficulty than infants conceived after one ART attempt. These results speak about the existence of important parent–infant interactive differences related to conception modality and ART technique and suggest the need to implement support programs to promote more sensitive parenting styles.

Keywords: assisted reproductive technology; parenting; mothers; fathers; parent–infant interactions; parental sensitivity; previous ART; IVF; ICSI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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