In a study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, researchers found that high cortisol levels in new moms are linked to more intrusive parenting behaviors and less responsiveness to infants' cries.
The study clarified that higher basal cortisol levels in new mothers correlate with less engaged parenting, resulting in reduced sensitivity and increased intrusive caregiving toward their infants.
Maternal intrusiveness is defined as a mother's tendency to interrupt her child's play or exploration, which is negatively impacted by increased stress and cortisol exposure.
The researchers aimed to explore how cortisol affects the brain's functioning in mothers, particularly regarding its influence on maternal behaviors and responsiveness to infant cues.
Collection
[
|
...
]