A recent study by UCL researchers reveals that infants whose mothers frequently articulate their thoughts and feelings show elevated levels of the hormone oxytocin.
Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a significant role in various psychological processes, particularly in social interactions, including the bonding between parents and children, as well as the establishment of trust and social awareness throughout life.
In this study, published in Development and Psychopathology, interactions between 62 new mothers—aged 23 to 44 years—with their infants, who were between three and nine months old, were recorded during natural play for five minutes.
The researchers reviewed these recordings to assess how effectively mothers communicated about their infant’s inner experiences, such as their emotions, thoughts, wants, and perceptions.
Additionally, saliva samples were taken from the infants to measure their oxytocin levels.
Upon analysis, the researchers discovered a positive link between the mothers’ verbal interactions and the infants’ oxytocin levels.
Dr. Kate Lindley Baron-Cohen, the study’s lead author from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, commented: “It has been widely recognized that oxytocin plays a significant role in close social relationships, particularly in the mother-child attachment. Previous research indicates that a mother’s ability to connect with her infant’s feelings and thoughts during the first year is crucial for the child’s long-term social and emotional growth. However, the mechanisms behind these influences were previously unclear.
“For the first time, we have identified the direct relationship between a mother’s discussions about her infant’s feelings and thoughts and the levels of oxytocin in the infant. This implies that oxytocin may play a role in shaping early social experiences for children, influenced by parental engagement.”
For instance, when a child shows interest in a toy, a mother who recognizes this might say, “Oh, you like this toy” or “You’re excited,” and could mirror the child’s actions or expressions. Such behavior reflects the child’s inner feelings, and the findings indicate that this interaction also affects the infant’s oxytocin levels.
The research also highlighted that mothers facing postnatal depression tended to refer less to their infant’s internal experiences compared to those who were not experiencing depression.
Dr. Lindley Baron-Cohen stated: “This study uncovers a new connection between mothers and their infants, showing that a mother’s emotionally attuned communication is mirrored in her infant’s hormone levels.
“This underscores the vital role mothers play in their child’s early development and suggests ways to support mothers dealing with depression to promote their children’s social growth.”
This research received financial backing from the National Institute for Health Research (NIRH) ARC North Thames, the Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation, Wellcome Trust, the University of York, the Fund for Psychoanalytic Research through the American Psychoanalytic Association, the International Psychoanalytical Association, the Michael Samuel Charitable Trust, the Denman Charitable Trust, and the Galvani Foundation.
