Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing
Background: Neonatal male circumcision is a painful skin-breaking procedure that may affect infant physiological and behavioral stress responses as well as mother-infant interaction. Due to the plasticity of the developing nociceptive system, neonatal pain might carry long-term consequences on adult...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020324099 |
| _version_ | 1819176000104169472 |
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| author | Alessandro Miani Gian Antonio Di Bernardo Astrid Ditte Højgaard Brian D. Earp Paul J. Zak Anne M. Landau Jørgen Hoppe Michael Winterdahl |
| author_facet | Alessandro Miani Gian Antonio Di Bernardo Astrid Ditte Højgaard Brian D. Earp Paul J. Zak Anne M. Landau Jørgen Hoppe Michael Winterdahl |
| author_sort | Alessandro Miani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Neonatal male circumcision is a painful skin-breaking procedure that may affect infant physiological and behavioral stress responses as well as mother-infant interaction. Due to the plasticity of the developing nociceptive system, neonatal pain might carry long-term consequences on adult behavior. In this study, we examined whether infant male circumcision is associated with long-term psychological effects on adult socio-affective processing. Methods: We recruited 408 men circumcised within the first month of life and 211 non-circumcised men and measured socio-affective behaviors and stress via a battery of validated psychometric scales. Results: Early-circumcised men reported lower attachment security and lower emotional stability while no differences in empathy or trust were found. Early circumcision was also associated with stronger sexual drive and less restricted socio-sexuality along with higher perceived stress and sensation seeking. Limitations: This is a cross-sectional study relying on self-reported measures from a US population. Conclusions: Our findings resonate with the existing literature suggesting links between altered emotional processing in circumcised men and neonatal stress. Consistent with longitudinal studies on infant attachment, early circumcision might have an impact on adult socio-affective traits or behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:03:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-211e2438ede04c28922dcfbd6d0e18f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:03:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-211e2438ede04c28922dcfbd6d0e18f92022-12-21T18:12:44ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402020-11-01611e05566Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processingAlessandro Miani0Gian Antonio Di Bernardo1Astrid Ditte Højgaard2Brian D. Earp3Paul J. Zak4Anne M. Landau5Jørgen Hoppe6Michael Winterdahl7Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Institute of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Corresponding author.Department of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emiilia, ItalySexological Centre, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, DenmarkDepartments of Philosophy and Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USACenter for Neuroeconomics Studies, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USADepartment of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkBackground: Neonatal male circumcision is a painful skin-breaking procedure that may affect infant physiological and behavioral stress responses as well as mother-infant interaction. Due to the plasticity of the developing nociceptive system, neonatal pain might carry long-term consequences on adult behavior. In this study, we examined whether infant male circumcision is associated with long-term psychological effects on adult socio-affective processing. Methods: We recruited 408 men circumcised within the first month of life and 211 non-circumcised men and measured socio-affective behaviors and stress via a battery of validated psychometric scales. Results: Early-circumcised men reported lower attachment security and lower emotional stability while no differences in empathy or trust were found. Early circumcision was also associated with stronger sexual drive and less restricted socio-sexuality along with higher perceived stress and sensation seeking. Limitations: This is a cross-sectional study relying on self-reported measures from a US population. Conclusions: Our findings resonate with the existing literature suggesting links between altered emotional processing in circumcised men and neonatal stress. Consistent with longitudinal studies on infant attachment, early circumcision might have an impact on adult socio-affective traits or behavior.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020324099PsychologyClinical researchNeonatal painAttachment styleEmpathyPersonality |
| spellingShingle | Alessandro Miani Gian Antonio Di Bernardo Astrid Ditte Højgaard Brian D. Earp Paul J. Zak Anne M. Landau Jørgen Hoppe Michael Winterdahl Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing Heliyon Psychology Clinical research Neonatal pain Attachment style Empathy Personality |
| title | Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing |
| title_full | Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing |
| title_fullStr | Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing |
| title_short | Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing |
| title_sort | neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio affective processing |
| topic | Psychology Clinical research Neonatal pain Attachment style Empathy Personality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020324099 |
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