Empathy and Hormonal Changes as Predictors of Sensitive Responsiveness towards Infant Crying: A Study Protocol

Maria Kaźmierczak, Paulina Pawlicka, Paulina Anikiej-Wiczenbach, Ariadna B. Łada-Maśko, Bogumiła Kiełbratowska, Magda Rybicka, Alicja Kotłowska, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg and Marinus H. van IJzendoorn
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Maria Kaźmierczak: Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Jana Bażyńskiego 4, 80309 Gdańsk, Poland
Paulina Pawlicka: Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Jana Bażyńskiego 4, 80309 Gdańsk, Poland
Paulina Anikiej-Wiczenbach: Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Jana Bażyńskiego 4, 80309 Gdańsk, Poland
Ariadna B. Łada-Maśko: Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Jana Bażyńskiego 4, 80309 Gdańsk, Poland
Bogumiła Kiełbratowska: Department of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 7, 80210 Gdańsk, Poland
Magda Rybicka: Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80307 Gdańsk, Poland
Alicja Kotłowska: Department of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębinki 7, 80211 Gdańsk, Poland
Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg: Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, BT, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marinus H. van IJzendoorn: Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 Rotterdam, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Sensitive responsiveness refers to parents’ ability to recognize and respond to infants’ cues and has been linked to parental empathy. Additionally, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hormones important for sensitivity and empathy. The aim of this study is to test the links between dispositional empathy along with changing OT and AVP levels and responsiveness to a life-like doll in couples and to verify whether these factors are predictors of responsiveness to a child’s cues. Exploratory analyses include predictors of sensitive responsiveness: polymorphisms of OXTR, AVPR1a and CD38 genes, personal characteristics and relational factors. The project employs standardized experimental settings that can be used with non-parents and the assessment of parental sensitive responsiveness towards their child. The participants are couples expecting their first child (111) and childless couples (110). The procedure involves caretaking of a life-like doll. Salivary samples and questionnaire data are collected in a planned manner. In the second part, the expectant couples are invited for the assessment of their sensitivity to their own child (Free Play episodes). Parental sensitivity is assessed using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale. This paper presents an interdisciplinary research project that reaches beyond the questionnaire measurement, considering many factors influencing the dynamics of adult–infant interaction.

Keywords: sensitive responsiveness; empathy; couple; pregnancy; infant; oxytocin and vasopressin; family (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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