Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control Study
Background: Caring for an excessively crying infant (ECI) can be stressful for mothers and fathers and is associated with mental and bonding problems. Hair cortisol offers a unique measure for the biological reaction of the body to stress over time. Methods: In this case-control study, scalp hair co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/662 |
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| author | Ineke de Kruijff Ellen Tromp Mijke P. Lambregtse-van den Berg Arine M. Vlieger Marc A. Benninga Yolanda B. de Rijke Erica LT. van den Akker |
| author_facet | Ineke de Kruijff Ellen Tromp Mijke P. Lambregtse-van den Berg Arine M. Vlieger Marc A. Benninga Yolanda B. de Rijke Erica LT. van den Akker |
| author_sort | Ineke de Kruijff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Caring for an excessively crying infant (ECI) can be stressful for mothers and fathers and is associated with mental and bonding problems. Hair cortisol offers a unique measure for the biological reaction of the body to stress over time. Methods: In this case-control study, scalp hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in 35 mothers and 23 fathers and their ECIs. The control group consisted of 64 mothers and 63 fathers of non-ECIs of similar age. Parental stress, depression, anxiety and bonding were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: Mean HCC were significantly lower in mothers and fathers of ECIs (2.3 pg/mg, 95% CI 1.8–2.9 and 1.6 pg/mg, 95% CI 1.3–2.0) than that in control mothers and fathers (3.2 pg/mg, 95% CI 3.0–3.7 and 2.9 pg/mg, 95% CI 2.5–3.5). In the total group of parents and within the parents of ECIs, HCC were not associated with negative feelings. In the control group, HCC showed a positive association with stress and depression (r = 0.207, <i>p</i> = 0.020 and r = 0.221, <i>p</i> = 0.013). In infants, no differences were found in mean HCC between the ECI group and the control group. No associations were found between maternal and infant HCC, paternal and infant HCC and maternal and paternal HCC. Conclusion: Parents of ECIs showed significantly lower HCC than control parents, reflecting a diminished response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. More research is needed to examine whether this decrease in response is pre-existing or caused by excessive infant crying. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:55:04Z |
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| id | doaj.art-f4995a374f6342c3944e1cc53cf6e9dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:55:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4995a374f6342c3944e1cc53cf6e9dc2023-11-22T07:14:06ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672021-07-018866210.3390/children8080662Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control StudyIneke de Kruijff0Ellen Tromp1Mijke P. Lambregtse-van den Berg2Arine M. Vlieger3Marc A. Benninga4Yolanda B. de Rijke5Erica LT. van den Akker6Department of Pediatrics, St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The NetherlandsDepartment of Epidemiology and Statistics, St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The NetherlandsDepartments of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Pediatrics, St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The NetherlandsDepartment of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsBackground: Caring for an excessively crying infant (ECI) can be stressful for mothers and fathers and is associated with mental and bonding problems. Hair cortisol offers a unique measure for the biological reaction of the body to stress over time. Methods: In this case-control study, scalp hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in 35 mothers and 23 fathers and their ECIs. The control group consisted of 64 mothers and 63 fathers of non-ECIs of similar age. Parental stress, depression, anxiety and bonding were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: Mean HCC were significantly lower in mothers and fathers of ECIs (2.3 pg/mg, 95% CI 1.8–2.9 and 1.6 pg/mg, 95% CI 1.3–2.0) than that in control mothers and fathers (3.2 pg/mg, 95% CI 3.0–3.7 and 2.9 pg/mg, 95% CI 2.5–3.5). In the total group of parents and within the parents of ECIs, HCC were not associated with negative feelings. In the control group, HCC showed a positive association with stress and depression (r = 0.207, <i>p</i> = 0.020 and r = 0.221, <i>p</i> = 0.013). In infants, no differences were found in mean HCC between the ECI group and the control group. No associations were found between maternal and infant HCC, paternal and infant HCC and maternal and paternal HCC. Conclusion: Parents of ECIs showed significantly lower HCC than control parents, reflecting a diminished response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. More research is needed to examine whether this decrease in response is pre-existing or caused by excessive infant crying.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/662hair cortisolinfantexcessive cryinginfant colicstressfather |
| spellingShingle | Ineke de Kruijff Ellen Tromp Mijke P. Lambregtse-van den Berg Arine M. Vlieger Marc A. Benninga Yolanda B. de Rijke Erica LT. van den Akker Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control Study Children hair cortisol infant excessive crying infant colic stress father |
| title | Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control Study |
| title_full | Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control Study |
| title_fullStr | Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control Study |
| title_short | Parental Stress and Scalp Hair Cortisol in Excessively Crying Infants: A Case Control Study |
| title_sort | parental stress and scalp hair cortisol in excessively crying infants a case control study |
| topic | hair cortisol infant excessive crying infant colic stress father |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/662 |
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