Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neonatal male circumcision is a painful skin-breaking procedure that may affect infant physiological and behavioral stress responses as well as mother-infant interaction. Due to the plasticity of the developing nociceptive system, neonatal pain might carry long-term consequences on adult behavior. In this study, we examined whether infant male circumcision is associated with long-term psychological effects on adult socio-affective processing.

Methods

We recruited 408 men circumcised within the first month of life and 211 non-circumcised men and measured socio-affective behaviors and stress via a battery of validated psychometric scales.

Results

Early-circumcised men reported lower attachment security and lower emotional stability while no differences in emp

SUBMITTER: Miani A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7702013 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature