Anxious mums are more physiologically ‘in sync’ with their babies, reveals new study

Most mothers experience a certain level of anxiety when it comes to pregnancy, childbirth as well as motherhood.

According to a new study, mothers with increased levels of anxiety are more physiologically "in sync" with their babies.

On the other hand, the stress response of less anxious mums is less tightly coupled with their infants.

The findings of the study further suggest that anxiety symptoms can influence how parents and their children regulate their stress. This can also have important implications on the child's psychological development.

Bond between mother and child psychology explained in new study

As part of the study, 68 mums who had 12-month-old infants wore microphones, electrocardiograms and had video cameras placed around their homes.

This allowed the researchers to observe the mums in a natural setting. The wearable devices thus went to record the participants' heart rate, physical activity level, heart rate variability and vocalisations.

Study author Celia Smith says, "We made sure to look at mums from a wide range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds."

• They found that higher levels of maternal anxiety were associated with higher physiological synchrony. In simple words, it meant the arousal level of anxious mums will correspond to the arousal levels of their infants.
• Both anxious and non-anxious mums showed physiological reactivity in response to large-scale changes in infant arousal. On the other hand, anxious mums also exhibited reactivity to small-scale arousal changes in their infants.

These findings highlighted the relationship between parental anxiety and parent-infant stress regulation. They also provide a basis for future investigations into how parents can best manage their anxiety symptoms.

Smith concluded by saying that they would need to carry out the study with many more families before making any claims or recommendations.

"In future, we would like to include parents of more diverse genders or with severe mental illness in our study. We would like to work out on how to best support parents with anxiety in their perinatal period," she noted.

The study clearly states that when mums are stressed and unable to navigate their emotions, the stress levels of their infant also goes up. It is, therefore, important for mums to seek help if they are feeling too emotionally stressed.

Three tips for dealing with anxiety

Find a local support group

If face to face interaction does not help and doesn't suit your particular needs, you can join a local support group in your area. Perhaps, listening to the experiences of other mums is just what you need.

You may also feel a sense of relief by expressing everything on your mind in a more constructive and supportive environment.

Don't hesitate to ask for help

Being a new mum is a difficult task. Not only do you have to cater to an infant all the time, but hormonal changes can also make it difficult for you to cope with these new changes all alone.

So, reach out to your friends and family and ask them for help. Actively seek support to help yourself overcome these challenging times.

Don't blame yourself

It is always important to know that no matter how severe your struggle with anxiety, it is not your fault. If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or suffering from postpartum depression, don't blame yourself.

If your symptoms are severe, seek medical attention for faster recovery.

Helpline numbers in Singapore

Know that it is normal to feel anxious when your newborn starts wailing and you are unable to comfort him or her.

With a little time and practice, you will know what the cry means and how to pacify your little one. But if you are constantly feeling overwhelmed and experiencing frequent anxiety attacks, seek help.

Here are some helpline numbers you can reach out to.

Don't suffer in silence and instead try to address the issue. Your mental health shouldn't be a hindrance between you and your child!

READ MORE: 8 things a first-time parent should know about childproofing their home

This article was first published in theAsianparent.