Abstract
This longitudinal study examined whether prenatal family alliance and prenatal paternal testosterone levels predicted infant–mother and infant–father attachment security and whether this association was mediated by postnatal family alliance and postnatal paternal testosterone levels. In 105 couples expecting their first child, family alliance was assessed in the third trimester of pregnancy with the prenatal version of the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP). Family alliance was measured again 6 months postnatally, using the LTP. Fathers provided testosterone samples prenatally and at 6 months postnatally. Infant–parent attachment was assessed with the Attachment Q-Sort (AQS) at 24 months. Results indicated an increase in paternal testosterone levels from the pre- to the postnatal period. A more positive prenatal family alliance predicted higher infant–father attachment security at 24 months, but not infant–mother attachment security. The association between prenatal family alliance and attachment security was not mediated by postnatal family alliance or postnatal paternal testosterone levels. This study highlights the significance of prenatal family relations, and the need to consider in research and practice the divergent effects of prenatal family alliance patterns on the emerging infant–mother and infant–father attachment relationships. The underlying hormonal mechanisms during the transition to fatherhood are important targets for future research.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 653-667 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Attachment and Human Development |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by grants from the Israeli Science Foundation [No. 1888/14], and the FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF–Marie-Curie Action: Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development (IEF) [No. 300805] awarded to D.S., and by a European Research Council grant [ERC AdG 669249] awarded to M.J.B-K. We would like to express our gratitude to all families who participated in this study. We further thank the research team for their contribution to the data collection.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- Infant–father attachment
- Lausanne Trilogue Play
- prenatal family relations
- testosterone
- triadic family interactions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health