Trust
Conditions
Keywords
Attachment, Oxytocin, Cognitive bias modification, Middle childhood
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
DRUGOxytocin
40 IU/ML nasal spray. One administration: children \<40kg administer 12IU, children \>40kg administer 24IU.
DRUGPlacebo
NaCl 0,9 % nasal spray.
OTHERSecure CBM training
Children are trained to interpret ambiguous maternal behavior in a secure way.
OTHERNeutral CBM training
Children receive a training unrelated to the interpretation of maternal behavior.
Sponsors
KU Leuven
Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Between 8 and 13 years old * Mother can also participate
Exclusion criteria
* Known oxytocin allergy * Currently using medication * Kidney or cardial condition
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in trust in mother | Immediately before and immediately after intervention | Trust in mother as measured by People in My Life Trust subscale. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in attachment-related behavior towards mother | Immediately before and immediately after intervention | Observation of the quality of the approach of child towards mother during a puzzle task. |
| Change in secure interpretation of ambiguous maternal behavior | Immediately before and immediately after intervention | 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. |
| Change in insecure interpretation of ambiguous maternal behavior | Immediately before and immediately after intervention | 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. |
| Interpretation speed of positive maternal behavior | Throughout the CBM training, from around 60 minutes until 110 minutes after the start of the procedure | Reaction times to scenarios describing secure maternal behavior. |
| Interpretation speed of negative maternal behavior | Throughout the CBM training, from around 60 minutes until 110 minutes after the start of the procedure | Reaction times to scenarios describing insecure maternal behavior. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oxytocin side-effects | Immediately after intervention and 24 hours after intervention | Questionnaire on possible oxytocin side-effects. |
| Change in mood | Immediately before nasal spray, immediately before CBM training and immediately after CBM training | Children rate on two visual analogous scales how happy and how sad they feel. |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed