Familial allomaternal care exposure is predictive of infant development

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OBJECTIVE: This study assesses whether increased exposure to allomaternal care (AMC, or non-maternal care) is associated with improved infant motor and social milestone attainment.

METHODS: Typically developing infants aged 13-18 months (n = 102) were assessed by their mothers using the previously validated National Center for Health Statistics' Motor and Social Development Scale (MSD). AMC exposure from birth to present was quantified using four AMC predictor components.

RESULTS: Exposure to Highly Involved Familial AMC has a significant medium effect on MSD score, such that infants experiencing more of this type of care score higher.

CONCLUSIONS: Familial AMC is associated with improved milestone attainment, suggesting that learning experiences are enhanced by these interactions, although further cross-cultural studies are needed. If future studies confirm the positive effects of AMC interactions on early developmental outcomes, this may help explain the selective pressures for extensive AMC.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:33

Enthalten in:

American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council - 33(2021), 3 vom: 01. Mai, Seite e23498

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Singletary, Britt [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 04.10.2021

Date Revised 04.10.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1002/ajhb.23498

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM314493344