The authors integrate findings from neurophysiology, affect regulation and attachment research, and apply them to treating couples. They observe that adult styles of relating to primary attachment figures parallel the attachment styles identified in infant–caregiver relationships. They work with couples on maintaining a state of attunement, providing a secure base, recognizing non-verbal signal...

Recent behavioral and physiologic observations of infants and mothers have shown them ready to begin interacting in the first minutes of life. Included among these findings are the newborn infant's ability to crawl toward the breast to initiate suckling and mother-infant thermoregulation. The attachment felt between mother and infant may be biochemically modulated through oxytocin; encouraging ...

The extent to which maternal sensitivity during a non-arousing free play task and during distressing tasks at 6 months predicted infant-mother attachment security was examined. When considered simultaneously, only maternal sensitivity during distressing tasks predicted subsequent attachment security. Infant temperament was unrelated to attachment security.

The literature from multiple disciplines on in utero cocaine exposure and mother-infant interaction and attachment was examined for possible relationships and implications for occupational therapists. Maternal cocaine use and neurobehavioral deficits in neonates prenatally exposed to cocaine may result in interactional difficulties between mother and infant. Knowledge of child development, sens...

Eighty-two mother-infant dyads, comprising women with psychiatric disorder and individually matched controls, were followed up over the children's 1st year of life. The mothers with mental illness consisted of two subgroups: first, 25 severely mentally ill mothers who had been admitted to a psychiatric unit with their infants; and second, 16 mothers from a community sample meeting research diag...

Objective: Several studies have explored the correlation between postpartum depression and a weak mother-infant bond; however, fewer analyzed how other mental health conditions, such as childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or important personal characteristics, including adult attachment styles, affect quality of bond. This study aims to examine association styles bonding i...

This study examined the degree to which specific properties of maternal touch may be associated with a low birth weight infant’s security of attachment at one year of age, considering the potential modifying effects of maternal sensitivity and history of touch as well as infant gender and biological vulnerability. One hundred and thirty one socioculturally diverse infants and their mothers were...