Bonding Quality and Gene Expression in Fullterm Infants Compared to Late Preterm Infants and Preterm Infants With Early Skin to Skin or Visual Contact

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Recent research has identified differences in the quality of mother-child interaction and gene expression of six key molecules involved in stress response and neurobehavioral development in preterm infants (born <32 weeks of gestational age) with early skin to skin contact after birth compared to infants with visual contact at six months corrected age. We hypothesize that these differences are still identifiable at the age of 6 to 8 years and that quality of bonding in preterm infants born <32 weeks of gestation differs significantly from late preterm infants and full-term infants.

Detailed Description
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Quality of bonding in former preterm infants born 2012 to 2015 who participated in the delivery room skin to skin study (deisy), moderate to late preterm infants born 2010 to 2011 who participated in the trauma and depression in late preterm parents study (TraDelPP) and full-term infants at 6 to 8 years of age is assessed using the German version of the attachment story completion task (ASCT). Additionally, gene expression of six key molecules involved in stress response and neurobehavioral development (the corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 and 2 genes (CRHR1 and CRHR2), arginine vasopressin gene (AVP), the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1), the serotonin receptor 2A gene (HTR2A), and the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4)) are quantified in in mucosal epithelial cells from buccal swabs of children of all four groups. Maternal and infant co-factors such as maternal depression, perceived social support, parental stress, infant health development and behavior are assessed by self-reporting questionnaires.

Official Title
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Bonding Quality and Gene Expression of Key Molecules Involved in Stress Response in Fullterm Infants Compared to Late Preterm Infants and Preterm Infants With Early Skin to Skin Contact or Visual Contact at Age 6 to 8 Years

Conditions
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Premature Infant

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Attachment story completion taks (ASCT)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: first child, singleton, former participant of deisy or TraDelPP study for preterm infants, uncomplicated vaginal birth for fullterm infants Exclusion Criteria: Maternal mental health problems, resuscitation after birth, malformations or severe underlying disease

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 9 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Fullterm infants<br>Quality of bonding is assessed at 6 to 8 years of age using the attachment story completion task. Infants are recruited from the local elementary school. | Diagnostic Test: Attachment story completion taks (ASCT)<br>* Bonding quality<br>* Other names: Self-reporting questionnaires;|
| Moderate to late preterm infants<br>Bonding quality is assessed at 6 to 8 years of age using the attachment story completion task. Infants are recruited from former participants of the trauma and depression in late preterm parents study (TraDelPP) conducted 2010 to 2011. | Diagnostic Test: Attachment story completion taks (ASCT)<br>* Bonding quality<br>* Other names: Self-reporting questionnaires;|
| Preterm infants with skin to skin contact<br>Bonding quality is assessed at 6 to 8 years of age using the attachment story completion task. Infants are recruited from former participants of the delivery room skin to skin study (deisy) who were randomized into the skin to skin contact group. The study was conducted from 2012 to 2015. | Diagnostic Test: Attachment story completion taks (ASCT)<br>* Bonding quality<br>* Other names: Self-reporting questionnaires;|
| Preterm infants with visual contact<br>Bonding quality is assessed at 6 to 8 years of age using the attachment story completion task. Infants are recruited from former participants of the delivery room skin to skin study (deisy) who were randomized into the visual contact group. The study was conducted from 2012 to 2015. | Diagnostic Test: Attachment story completion taks (ASCT)<br>* Bonding quality<br>* Other names: Self-reporting questionnaires;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bonding quality | Quality of mother infant bonding is assessed with the German version of the Attachment Story Completion Task (Bretherton and Ridgeway 1990) | 6 to 8 years of age | 
| Gene expression | Quantification of gene expression of six key molecules involved in stress response and neurobehavioural development | 6 to 8 years of age | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maternal depression | Maternal depression is assessed with the German long form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). | 6 to 8 years of age | 
| Maternal perceived social support | Perceived social support is assessed with the short version of the F-SozU scale (F-SozU K-22). | 6 to 8 years of age | 
| Maternal parenting stress | For the assessment of parenting stress the German version of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) is used | 6 to 8 years of age | 
| Infant health and development | Infant health and development are assessed by a self-reporting questionnaire and the results from compulsory pediatric medical checkups. The questionnaire for assessment of infant health and development was designed for the KIGGS study (a large German cohort study on infant´s health) | 6 to 8 years of age | 
| Infant behavior | For assessment of infant behavior the German version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is used. | 6 to 8 years of age | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Bonding, Stress response, Neurodevelopment, Gene expression