The effects of social context on the hormonal and behavioral responsiveness of human fathers

• Published in: Hormones and behavior 2011-09, Vol.60 (4), p.353-361
• Main Authors: Storey, Anne E., Noseworthy, Diana E., Delahunty, Krista M., Halfyard, Sarah J., McKay, Donald W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Algorithms; Behavior; Behavior - physiology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; Child, Preschool; Cortisol; Father-Child Relations; Fathers; Fathers - psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate - physiology; Hormones; Hormones - blood; Hormones - metabolism; Hormones and behavior; Human; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Infant; Infant cues; Male; Middle Aged; Paternal; Play and Playthings - psychology; Preschool children; Prolactin; Prolactin - blood; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social context; Social Environment; Testosterone; Testosterone - blood; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0018-506X; 1095-6867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.07.001

We tested first-time fathers with their 22-month old toddlers to determine whether social context variables such as pre-test absence from the child and presence of the mother affected physiological measures associated with paternal responsiveness. Heart rate and blood pressure readings as well as blood samples to determine prolactin, testosterone and cortisol levels were taken before and after the 30-min father–toddler interactions. Fathers were tested on a day when they were away from their child for several hours before testing (‘without-child’ day) and on another day where they remained with their child throughout the day (‘with-child’ day). Most measures decreased over the 30-min test period but relative decreases were context-dependent. Men maintained higher prolactin levels when they were away from their children longer before testing on the ‘without-child’ day. Cortisol levels decreased during both tests and they decreased more on the ‘with-child’ day for men who had spent more time alone with their toddler before the test. Heart-rate and diastolic (but not systolic) blood pressure decreased more on the ‘with-child’ day than on the ‘without-child’ day. Fathers' testosterone levels decreased when their partners were less involved in the interactions. Compared to men with high responsiveness ratings on both days, men whose responsiveness increased after being away from their child on the ‘without-child’ day maintained higher systolic blood pressure and had a greater decrease in testosterone levels. We conclude that context may be more important in determining fathers' physiological responses to child contact than has previously been appreciated, particularly for some individuals. Blood samples were taken before and after fathers interacted with their toddlers on one day that they spent with and one day they spent away from their child. Prolactin levels decreased less when fathers were away from their child for a longer period before testing compared to fathers who were away for shorter periods, whereas the reverse was seen for cortisol. Fathers who spent more time interacting with their toddler during the test had a greater decrease in testosterone compared to men who spent less time. Fathers' heart rates decreased more over the test on the day they spent with their child compared to the day away. [Display omitted] ► We examined how context affects fathers' hormonal responses to toddlers. ► Fathers were tested after being with or away from their child