Co-regulation and Interaction in the NICU

Preterm infants are exposed to multiple stressors each day, posing a risk of toxic stress that can impact their developing brains during a critical period of sensitivity. Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol can impede neuronal connectivity and communication, thereby increasing the likelihood of cognitive impairment and behavioural problems. Synchronized social-emotional mother-infant interaction holds promise in buffering stress reactivity and mitigating long-term stress effects. Our previous research has shown that preterm infants exhibit higher baseline saliva cortisol levels than full-term infants, along with blunted cortisol reactivity to stressors, irregular cortisol circadian rhythms, and delayed cortisol co-regulation between mother and infant. Another potential stress marker is saliva alpha-amylase (α-amylase), which has garnered increasing interest in adult research. However, there remains a significant gap in the literature concerning saliva α-amylase as a stress marker in preterm infants, warranting further investigation. The overall aim is to study development and relationships between three systems of parent-infant synchrony in preterm infants and their parents and elucidate potential confounding factors for a synchronous correlation. This will be done in relation to standardised care procedures commonly performed in the neonatal intensive care unit. This observational study will involve 35 families undergoing three video-recorded procedures in the N…

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Evalotte Mörelius, PhD, Professor  ·  +46 (0) 793008207  ·  evalotte.morelius@liu.se

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