The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of oxytocin and a cognitive bias modification (CBM) procedure on children's trust in their mother.
Previous research has shown that children can be trained to interpret ambiguous interactions with mother in a more secure way by use of a CBM procedure. A secure attachment-related processing bias can causally increase children's trust in mother's availability. The present study tests whether intranasal administration of oxytocin can increase the effect of a secure cognitive bias training. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is involved in human attachment and bonding. Intranasal administration of oxytocin can increase trust among people. After oxytocin or placebo administration, children are either trained to interpret ambiguous interactions with mother in a secure way or receive a neutral training unrelated to interpretation of maternal behavior. Pre- and post-intervention children's trust in mother, support seeking behavior and interpretation of maternal behavior is assessed. Moreover, possible oxytocin side-effects will be monitored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
100
40 IU/ML nasal spray. One administration: children \<40kg administer 12IU, children \>40kg administer 24IU.
NaCl 0,9 % nasal spray.
Children are trained to interpret ambiguous maternal behavior in a secure way.
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Change in trust in mother
Trust in mother as measured by People in My Life Trust subscale.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after intervention
Change in attachment-related behavior towards mother
Observation of the quality of the approach of child towards mother during a puzzle task.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after intervention
Change in secure interpretation of ambiguous maternal behavior
After reading scenarios describing ambiguous maternal behavior, children will be presented with sentences describing secure interpretations of this behavior and are asked to rate on a 4-point Likert scale to what extent this did or did not happen in the scenario. Thereby, children's spontaneous secure interpretation of ambiguous maternal behavior can be assessed.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after intervention
Change in insecure interpretation of ambiguous maternal behavior
After reading scenarios describing ambiguous maternal behavior, children will be presented with sentences describing insecure interpretations of this behavior and are asked to rate on a 4-point Likert scale to what extent this did or did not happen in the scenario, assessing children's spontaneous insecure interpretation of ambiguous maternal behavior.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after intervention
Interpretation speed of positive maternal behavior
Reaction times to scenarios describing secure maternal behavior.
Time frame: Throughout the CBM training, from around 60 minutes until 110 minutes after the start of the procedure
Interpretation speed of negative maternal behavior
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Children receive a training unrelated to the interpretation of maternal behavior.
Reaction times to scenarios describing insecure maternal behavior.
Time frame: Throughout the CBM training, from around 60 minutes until 110 minutes after the start of the procedure