Abstract
Oxytocin seems associated with parenting style, and experimental work showed positive effects of intranasally administered
oxytocin on parenting style of fathers. Here, the first double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject experiment with intranasal
oxytocin administration to fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is presented. Fathers with their typically
developing toddler (n = 18), and fathers of toddlers diagnosed with ASD (n = 14), were observed in two play sessions of 15 min each with an intervening period of 1 week. In all fathers oxytocin elevated
the quality of paternal sensitive play: fathers stimulated their child in a more optimal way, and they showed less hostility
which suggests the positive effects of oxytocin on paternal sensitive play irrespective of clinical status of their child.
oxytocin on parenting style of fathers. Here, the first double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject experiment with intranasal
oxytocin administration to fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is presented. Fathers with their typically
developing toddler (n = 18), and fathers of toddlers diagnosed with ASD (n = 14), were observed in two play sessions of 15 min each with an intervening period of 1 week. In all fathers oxytocin elevated
the quality of paternal sensitive play: fathers stimulated their child in a more optimal way, and they showed less hostility
which suggests the positive effects of oxytocin on paternal sensitive play irrespective of clinical status of their child.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Brief Report
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1536-6
- Authors
- Fabiënne B. A. Naber, Centre of Child and Family Studies, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Irina E. Poslawsky, Rudolph Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Centre of Child and Family Studies, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Herman van Engeland, Rudolph Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, Centre of Child and Family Studies, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257