Maternal-infant interaction as an influence on infant adiposity.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this research is to identify whether specific aspects of the early life psychosocial environment such as quality of home and maternal-infant interaction are associated with increased infant adiposity, in a disadvantaged population in the United States.


METHODS
Data on 121 mother-infant pairs from the Albany Pregnancy and Infancy Lead Study were analyzed using three multiple linear regression models with subscapular skinfold thickness (SST), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), and weight z-scores at 12 months of age as outcome variables. Maternal-infant interaction was indexed by the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scales (NCATS) and home environment quality was indexed by the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME).


RESULTS
In models including infant birth weight, cigarette use in second trimester, infant caloric intake at 9-12 months, size at birth for gestational age, infant sex, and mother's prepregnancy BMI, specific subscales of NCATs predicted infant adiposity z-scores. Poorer mother's response to infant distress was associated with greater SST ( β = -0.20, P = .02), TST ( β = -0.19, P = .04), and weight ( β = -0.14, P = .05). Better maternal sensitivity to infant cues was associated with larger SST ( β = 0.25, P < .01), while mother's poorer social-emotional growth fostering predicted greater SST ( β = -0.23, P < .01) and weight ( β = -0.16, P = .03). Better scores on HOME Organization of the Environment were associated with greater SST ( β = 0.34, P = .02) and TST ( β = 0.33, P = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
Emotionally relevant aspects of the maternal-infant interaction predicted infant adiposity, though in different directions. This indicates that the psychosocial environment, through maternal behavior, may influence infant adiposity. However, the general home environment was not consistently related to infant adiposity.
['Holdsworth|Elizabeth A|EA|', 'Schell|Lawrence M|LM|']
D050154:Adiposity D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D001835:Body Weight D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D008137:Longitudinal Studies D008297:Male D009034:Mother-Child Relations D009518:New York D012931:Social Environment D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D055815:Young Adult
adiposity infancy developmental origins of health and disease fat patterning health disparities psychosocial stress