June Cho1, Diane Holditch-Davis, Xiaogang Su, Vivien Phillips, Fred Biasini, Waldemar A Carlo. 1. June Cho, PhD, RN, was Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, at the time this research was completed. She is now Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Diane Holditch-Davis, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Professor Emerita, School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Xiaogang Su, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso. Vivien Phillips, BSN, RN, is Research Nurse Coordinator, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Fred Biasini, PhD, is Associate Professor, Director of Alabama UCEDD and LEND, Director of Civitan/Sparks Clinics, and Director of UAB Early Head Start, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Waldemar A. Carlo, MD, is Professor, Director of Division of Neonatology, and Director of Newborn Nurseries, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Male infants are more prone to health problems and developmental delays than female infants. OBJECTIVES: On the basis of theories of gender differences in brain development and social relationships, we explored associations between testosterone and cortisol levels with infant cognitive, motor, and language development ("infant development") in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, controlling for mother-infant interactions, characteristics of mothers and infants, and days of saliva collection after birth. METHODS: A total of 62 mother-VLBW infant pairs were recruited from the newborn intensive care unit of a tertiary medical center in the Southeast United States. Data were collected through infant medical record review, biochemical measurement, observation of mother-infant interactions, and standard questionnaires. Infant development was assessed at 6 months corrected age (CA), and mother-infant interactions were observed at 3 and 6 months CA. RESULTS: General linear regression with separate analyses for each infant gender showed that high testosterone levels were positively associated with language development of male infants after controlling for mother-infant interactions and other covariates, whereas high cortisol levels were negatively associated with motor development of female infants after controlling for mother-infant interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Steroid hormonal levels may well be more fundamental factors for assessing infant development than infant gender or mother-infant interactions at 6 months CA.
BACKGROUND: Male infants are more prone to health problems and developmental delays than female infants. OBJECTIVES: On the basis of theories of gender differences in brain development and social relationships, we explored associations between testosterone and cortisol levels with infant cognitive, motor, and language development ("infant development") in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, controlling for mother-infant interactions, characteristics of mothers and infants, and days of saliva collection after birth. METHODS: A total of 62 mother-VLBW infant pairs were recruited from the newborn intensive care unit of a tertiary medical center in the Southeast United States. Data were collected through infant medical record review, biochemical measurement, observation of mother-infant interactions, and standard questionnaires. Infant development was assessed at 6 months corrected age (CA), and mother-infant interactions were observed at 3 and 6 months CA. RESULTS: General linear regression with separate analyses for each infant gender showed that high testosterone levels were positively associated with language development of male infants after controlling for mother-infant interactions and other covariates, whereas high cortisol levels were negatively associated with motor development of female infants after controlling for mother-infant interactions. CONCLUSIONS:Steroid hormonal levels may well be more fundamental factors for assessing infant development than infant gender or mother-infant interactions at 6 months CA.
Authors: Lindsay R Chura; Michael V Lombardo; Emma Ashwin; Bonnie Auyeung; Bhismadev Chakrabarti; Edward T Bullmore; Simon Baron-Cohen Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 4.905