Do empathy and oxytocin predict responsiveness to a crying infant simulator in expecting and non-expecting couples? A multilevel study

Maria Kaźmierczak*, Marinus H. van Ijzendoorn, Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Infant crying is a strong emotional stimulus that elicits caregiving responses in adults. Here we examine the role of empathy (measured with the Polish version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index) and salivary oxytocin in modulating sensitive responsiveness to a crying infant simulator in two groups of heterosexual couples: 111 expecting or 110 not expecting a baby. Sensitive responsiveness was observed during a standardized procedure using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale while participants took care of the infant simulator, both individually and as a couple. Other-oriented empathy predicted elevated levels of individual but not couple sensitive responsiveness. More OT reactivity to crying predicted less responsiveness in non-expecting couples, which might be explained by their stronger focus on task performance. This study uniquely combined hormonal, observational and self-report measures in couples, and showed that personality and hormonal correlates of sensitive responsiveness might be studied before the child’s birth with the use of infant simulators.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)624-644
Number of pages21
JournalAttachment and Human Development
Volume24
Issue number5
Early online date19 Apr 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
1. The study has been funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant no. 2016/22/E/ HS6/00237 awarded to Maria Kaźmierczak). The funding source had no role in the study design, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Funding Information:
2. Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg was supported by the European Research Council (ERC AdG 669249)

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Funding

1. The study has been funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant no. 2016/22/E/ HS6/00237 awarded to Maria Kaźmierczak). The funding source had no role in the study design, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the paper for publication. 2. Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg was supported by the European Research Council (ERC AdG 669249)

Keywords

  • caregiving
  • couples
  • Empathy
  • oxytocin
  • responsiveness

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