نبذة مختصرة : Synchronicity between mother and infant describes the attunement of behavior and physiological processes and is associated with a healthy development of the infant. However, in particular our understanding of the adrenocortical synchronicity and its influencing factors is still rather limited. Therefore, this thesis examines how parenting stress effects adrenocortical synchronicity. Likewise, it is examined whether parenting stress reduces maternal bonding and whether maternal bonding mediates the relationship between parenting stress and adrenocortical synchronicity. For this purpose, three saliva samples were obtained from 60 mothers and their infants during the course of a day. In addition, the mothers completed the “Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale” and the “Parenting Stress Index” questionnaire. Based on the latter the sample was divided into two groups of either low or high parenting stress. The adrenocortical synchronicity was assessed through product-moment correlations of the salivary cortisol concentrations between mothers and infants. Additionally, variance and mediation analyses were conducted. The results showed that adrenocortical synchronicity was present in both groups. Furthermore, parenting stress reduced maternal bonding. However, maternal bonding did not mediate the relationship between parenting stress and adrenocortical synchronicity. It might be speculated that parenting stress doesn’t affect adrenocortical synchronicity or that adrenocortical synchronicity impacts on the development of the infant beneficially or detrimentally, depending on the situation. Moreover, parenting stress decreases maternal bonding and might therefore negatively affect mother-infant-relationships. Based on these findings, it seems desirable to further support the relationship of mothers and infants by reducing maternal stress.
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