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Caregiving adversity during infancy and preschool cognitive function: adaptations to context?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2021

Anne Rifkin-Graboi*
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Child Development, National Institute of Education, 1 Nanyang Walk, SingaporeS637616, Singapore
Shaun Kok-Yew Goh
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Child Development, National Institute of Education, 1 Nanyang Walk, SingaporeS637616, Singapore
Hui Jun Chong
Affiliation:
Integrative Neurosciences, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore117609, Singapore
Stella Tsotsi
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Child Development, National Institute of Education, 1 Nanyang Walk, SingaporeS637616, Singapore
Lit Wee Sim
Affiliation:
Integrative Neurosciences, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore117609, Singapore
Kok Hian Tan
Affiliation:
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, KK Women and Children’s Hospital, Singapore229899, Singapore
Yap Seng Chong
Affiliation:
Integrative Neurosciences, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore117609, Singapore Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, National University Hospital Singapore, Singapore119228, Singapore
Michael J. Meaney
Affiliation:
Integrative Neurosciences, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore117609, Singapore Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
*
Address for correspondence: Anne Rifkin-Graboi, Centre for Research in Child Development, National Institute of Education, 1 Nanyang Walk, SingaporeS637616, Singapore. Email: anne.rifkin@nie.edu.sg

Abstract

From a conditional adaptation vantage point, early life caregiving adversity likely enhances aspects of cognition needed to manage interpersonal threats. Yet, research examining early life care and offspring cognition predominantly relies upon experiments including affectively neutral stimuli, with findings generally interpreted as “early-life caregiving adversity is, de facto, ‘bad’ for cognitive performance.” Here, in a Southeast Asian sample, we examined observed maternal sensitivity in infancy and cognitive performance 3 years later as preschoolers took part in three tasks, each involving both a socioemotional (SE) and non-socioemotional (NSE) version: relational memory (n = 236), cognitive flexibility (n = 203), and inhibitory control (n = 255). Results indicate the relation between early life caregiving adversity and memory performance significantly differs (Wald test = 7.67, (1), P = 0.006) depending on the SE versus NSE context, with maternal sensitivity in infancy highly predictive of worse memory for SE stimuli, and amongst girls, also predictive of better memory when NSE stimuli are used. Results concerning inhibitory control, as well as cognitive flexibility in girls, also tentatively suggest the importance of considering the SE nature of stimuli when assessing relations between the caregiving environment and cognitive performance. As not all approaches to missing data yielded similar results, implications for statistical approaches are elaborated. We conclude by considering how an adaptation-to-context framework approach may aid in designing pedagogical strategies and well-being interventions that harness pre-existing cognitive strengths.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

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