Stress reactivity and attachment security

Gunnar, Megan R.; Brodersen, Laurie; Nachmias, Melissa; Buss, Kristin A.; Rigatuso, Joseph

doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-2302(199604)29:3<191::aid-dev1>3.0.co;2-m

Cited by 335 publications

(178 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(30 reference statements)

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“…Maternal presence has a strong regulatory influence on the ANS and HPA axis in rodents and primates (11,43), and insecure attachment is associated with elevated cortisol reactivity and vagal withdrawal in young children (44,45). Moreover, placement before 24 months in BEIP is also associated with substantially greater odds of developing a secure attachment (42), indicating a similar sensitive period for attachment security as we observe for cortisol reactivity and vagal regulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causal effects of the early caregiving environment on development of stress response systems in children

McLaughlin

Sheridan

Tibu³

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

355

323

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Disruptions in stress response system functioning are thought to be a central mechanism by which exposure to adverse early-life environments influences human development. Although early-life adversity results in hyperreactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in rodents, evidence from human studies is inconsistent. We present results from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project examining whether randomized placement into a family caregiving environment alters development of the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis in children exposed to early-life deprivation associated with institutional rearing. Electrocardiogram, impedance cardiograph, and neuroendocrine data were collected during laboratorybased challenge tasks from children (mean age = 12.9 y) raised in deprived institutional settings in Romania randomized to a highquality foster care intervention (n = 48) or to remain in care as usual (n = 43) and a sample of typically developing Romanian children (n = 47). Children who remained in institutional care exhibited significantly blunted SNS and HPA axis responses to psychosocial stress compared with children randomized to foster care, whose stress responses approximated those of typically developing children. Intervention effects were evident for cortisol and parasympathetic nervous system reactivity only among children placed in foster care before age 24 and 18 months, respectively, providing experimental evidence of a sensitive period in humans during which the environment is particularly likely to alter stress response system development. We provide evidence for a causal link between the early caregiving environment and stress response system reactivity in humans with effects that differ markedly from those observed in rodent models.childhood adversity | early-life stress | HPA axis | autonomic nervous system | stress reactivity D isruptions in stress response system functioning are thought to be a central mechanism by which exposure to adverse early-life environments influences human development. This idea is borne out in rodent models, where the effects of early-life adversity on the development of stress response systems have been well characterized. Exposure to early-life adversityinvolving repeated and prolonged separation of a pup from its mother-results in hyperreactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in adolescence and adulthood and elevations in anxiety, fearful behaviors, and hypervigilance (1-4). Stress exposure in mature rodents is associated with immediate, but not lasting, changes in stress response systems (5, 6), suggesting the presence of an early sensitive period when exposure to adverse environments results in long-term changes in physiological stress response system functioning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causal effects of the early caregiving environment on development of stress response systems in children

McLaughlin

Sheridan

Tibu³

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

355

323

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“…The attachment relationship between infant and parent is important in shaping the development of the child's stress regulation system (Gunnar, Brodersen, Nachmias, Buss, & Rigatuso, 1996). In the first year of life, human infants are dependent on protective Corresponding Author: Marinus van IJzendoorn or Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg, Center for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands; vanijzen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl or bakermans@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methylation matters: FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) methylation moderates the associations ofFKBP5genotype and resistant attachment with stress regulation

et al. 2017

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The parent-child attachment relationship plays an important role in the development of the infant's stress regulation system. However, genetic and epigenetic factors such as FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) genotype and DNA methylation have also been associated with hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning. In the current study, we examined how parent-child dyadic regulation works in concert with genetic and epigenetic aspects of stress regulation. We study the associations of attachment, extreme maternal insensitivity, FKBP5 SNP 1360780, and FKBP5 methylation, with cortisol reactivity to the Strange Situation Procedure in 298 14-monthold infants. Results indicate that FKBP5 methylation moderates the associations of FKBP5 genotype and resistant attachment with cortisol reactivity. We conclude that the inclusion of epigenetics in the field of developmental psychopathology may lead to a more precise picture of the interplay between genetic make-up and parenting in shaping stress reactivity. KeywordsAttachment; FKBP5; DNA methylation; Cortisol; StressThe attachment relationship between infant and parent is important in shaping the development of the child's stress regulation system (Gunnar, Brodersen, Nachmias, Buss, & Rigatuso, 1996). In the first year of life, human infants are dependent on protective Corresponding Author: Marinus van IJzendoorn or Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg, Center for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands; vanijzen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl or bakermans@fsw.leidenuniv.nl. Europe PMC Funders GroupAuthor Manuscript Dev Psychopathol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 November 01. Europe PMC Funders Author ManuscriptsEurope PMC Funders Author Manuscripts caregivers to regulate their temperature, food and fluid intake, and also to regulate stress in the face of threats and dangers (Bowlby, 1969). Sensitive parents, who promptly and adequately respond to their infants' distress signals, help to create a safe haven from which the child can freely explore the environment (Cassidy, 2008). These infants are more likely to develop a secure attachment relationship and the associated expectation that, in times of need, their parent will be available to protect them (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 2015). Insensitive parents, however, may be less prompt and effective in buffering stressful events and settings for their infant. In turn, their infants will be less likely to develop trust and the expectancy of reassuring parental support in times of illness, threat, anxiety and other stressful situations. These infants are also more likely to develop an insecure attachment relationship and a more tenuous style of coping with stressors, potentially resulting in a more reactive hormonal stress system (Fox & Hane, 2008). Stress regulation takes place via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) and one of the crucial hormones involved is cortisol. Therefore, cortisol reactivity to stressors is usually considered to be a measure o...

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“…In addition, higher cortisol levels were found for insecurely attached infants (Hertsgaard, Gunnar, Erickson, & Nachmias, 1995;Spangler & Grossman, 1993;Spangler & Schieche, 1998) and for infants with a combination of inhibited approach (e.g., to novelty of social situations) and insecure attachment (Gunnar, Brodersen, Nachmias, Buss, & Rigatuso, 1996;Nachmias, Gunnar, Mangelsdorf, Parritz, & Buss, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological effects of separation and reunion in relation to attachment and temperament in young children

Oosterman

Schuengel

2007

Developmental Psychobiology

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This study examined physiological effects of separation and reunion in a sample 3-to 6-year-old children. Using continuous ambulatory recording, changes in heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and pre-ejection period (PEP) were compared across the episodes of a separation-reunion procedure based on the strange situation. RSA decreased significantly over the course of the procedure as well as on separation from the parent and not the stranger, supporting that separation from the attachment figure elicited vagal withdrawal in young children. The absence of significant PEP effects suggest that the separation-reunion procedure, and more specifically separation from the parent, was not threatening enough to activate the sympathetic nervous system, even if children were insecure attached and inhibited with regard to strangers. Some of the variability in HR increases to reunion was explained by younger age. The findings highlight the role of the ANS as a regulatory process in the parent-child relationship. ß 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 119-128, 2007.

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Stress reactivity and attachment security

Cited by 335 publications

References 31 publications

Causal effects of the early caregiving environment on development of stress response systems in children

Causal effects of the early caregiving environment on development of stress response systems in children

Methylation matters: FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) methylation moderates the associations ofFKBP5genotype and resistant attachment with stress regulation

Physiological effects of separation and reunion in relation to attachment and temperament in young children

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