Child ’s Oxytocin Response to Mother-Child Interaction: The Contribution of Child Genetics and Maternal Behavior

The oxytocinergic system is a key biological system underlying the need for bonding and protection from threat (Insel, 2010), with recognized associations with social behavior, particularly involving social affiliation (Winslow& Insel, 2002). Indeed, it has been shown to respond to social interactions. For example, Feldman, Gordon, Schneiderman, Weisman, and Zagoory-Sharon (2010) reported that mothers and fathers who provided high levels of tactile contact to their infants evinced increases in salivary oxytocin (OT) following parent –infant interaction.

Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - November 16, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Rita Baiao, Pasco Fearon, Jay Belsky, Joana Baptista, Alexandra Carneiro, Raquel Pinto, Marlene Nogueira, C ésar Oliveira, Isabel Soares, Ana Mesquita Source Type: research