| Approved on: | 2024-08-13 |
| Brief purpose of the study: | This research study looks at how the maternal brain changes over the transition to becoming a parent, the role of psychological factors in shaping such changes, and the impact of such changes on parenting and child development. This study also includes women transitioning to work in childcare who are not parents to serve as control participants. |
| Brief summary of what participants will be asked to do: | Mothers: Participation in this study involves four time points, one during your 3rd trimester of pregnancy and one at 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months postpartum. At each time point you would be asked to complete questionnaires and lab visits. Questionnaires are completed online prior to each lab visit and take about an hour. During lab visits at the first three time points, mothers' brain activity will be monitored while they listen to and view infant emotional expressions. During lab visits at the last three time points, mothers and babies will complete caregiving tasks (e.g., diaper change) and play together. Each lab visit is approximately 1 hour.
Controls: Participation in this study involves three time points spaced four months apart. At each time point you will be asked to complete questionnaires and a lab visit. Questionnaires are completed online prior to each lab visit and take about an hour. During each 1-hour lab visit, your brain wave activity will be monitored while you listen to and view infant and adult emotional expressions. |
| Basic eligibility criteria: | Mothers: First time expectant mothers over the age of 18 years old in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy not experiencing pregnancy/fetal development complications expecting a single birth. Mothers need to be right-handed, without head injury or neurological disorders.
Controls (childcare): Females (i.e., biological sex assigned at birth was female) aged at least 18 years who are not parents/have not been pregnant/do not plan to become pregnant who will be beginning work in childcare centers. Control participants need to be right-handed, without head injury or neurological disorders.
Controls (non-mothers): Females (i.e., biological sex assigned at birth was female) who are of average child-bearing age comparable to that of our sample of mothers (24-33yrs), do not children, have not been pregnant/do not plan to become pregnant.
Controls (non-mothers): Females (i.e., biological sex assigned at birth was female) are at average child-bearing age (24-33 yrs) who are not parents/have not been pregnant/do not plan to become pregnant. Control participants need to be right-handed, without head injury or neurological disorders. |
| Study contact for more information: | email: mupsycfcdlab@missouri.edu
website for expectant mothers: http://familyandchilddevelopmentlabmizzou.weebly.com/participate-in-a-study-mothers.html
website for women transitioning to work in childcare: http://familyandchilddevelopmentlabmizzou.weebly.com/participate-in-a-study-women-working-in-child-care.html |
| IRB Number: | 2043822 MU |
