Associations between attentional disengagement from distressed infant faces and cortisol reactivity are moderated by depressive symptoms in pregnant women: an eye-tracking study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Antenatal depression is a common psychological condition in pregnancy that negatively influences parenting. Theoretical models suggest that infant cue processing may represent one pathway by which depression may influence parenting. However, current understanding of how infant cue processing is linked with parenting in depression remains limited. Drawing upon previous research, cortisol stress reactivity may play an important role in this regard. The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction between depressive symptoms and attentional disengagement from infant cues on cortisol reactivity. We examined this in a sample of pregnant and nulliparous women to test whether potential effects were specific to pregnancy.

Methods

N = 79 women (n = 36 pregnant)

SUBMITTER: Dworschak C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12764579 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature