SYNOPSIS

Objective. Children differ in the extent to which they reap the benefits of maternal sensitive care or suffer the adverse consequences of insensitive care, and these differences can be accounted for by biological characteristics. However, how susceptible children adapt to maternal sensitivity in ways that either maximize positive development or lead to maladjustment has yet to be determined. Here, we propose a novel model of socioemotional mechanisms by which the joint influences of maternal sensitivity and child biological characteristics influence child adjustment. Design. We propose a theoretical model, in which children’s vagal functioning and polymorphisms in serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) genes confer susceptibility to the effects of maternal sensitivity on internalizing, externalizing, prosocial and moral behavior via changes in interpersonal strategies for emotion regulation, the threat response system, and empathy. Results. Theoretical and empirical support for the proposed mechanisms are provided. Conclusions. The proposed mechanistic model of susceptibility to maternal sensitivity offers a novel framework of for whom and how children are affected by early maternal care, highlighting multiple reciprocal, interacting influences across genes, physiology, behavior, and the environment.

概要

目标。儿童在获得母亲敏感照料的好处或遭受不敏感照料的不利后果方面存在差异，这些差异可以用生物学特征来解释。然而，易感儿童如何以最大化积极发展或导致适应不良的方式适应母亲的敏感性尚待确定。在这里，我们提出了一种社会情感机制的新模型，通过该模型，母性敏感性和儿童生物学特征的共同影响影响儿童适应。设计. 我们提出了一个理论模型，其中儿童的迷走神经功能和 5-羟色胺转运蛋白 (5-HTTLPR) 和多巴胺受体 D4 (DRD4) 基因的多态性通过人际关系的变化赋予母性敏感性对内化、外化、亲社会和道德行为影响的易感性情绪调节策略、威胁反应系统和同理心。结果。为所提出的机制提供了理论和实证支持。结论。拟议的母性敏感性易感性机制模型提供了一个新的框架，说明早期母性护理对儿童的影响和影响方式，强调了基因、生理、行为和环境之间的多重交互影响。