EFFECTS OF A PARENTING INTERVENTION ON OXTR METHYLATION

Abstract

Prenatal opioid exposure (POE) is associated with adverse developmental outcomes, including disruptions in caregiving quality and heightened risk for insecure attachment. Standard medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder during pregnancy does not address deficits in maternal sensitivity, prompting interest in interventions targeting parenting behaviors. This study examined the effects of a modified Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (mABC) intervention on DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in infants born to mothers receiving MAT. Mother-infant dyads (N = 36) were randomized to receive either mABC or a control intervention, and infant saliva samples were collected at 6 and 12 months postpartum to assess methylation at two OXTR regions: exon 3 (OXTR3) and intron 1 (OXTRi). Mixed effects models revealed no significant main effects of intervention condition on OXTR3 or OXTRi average methylation. These findings, however, may not capture and reflect more subtle gene x environment interactions at the individual CpG site level, a necessary future step. Integrating epigenetic measures into intervention research can reveal biologically sensitive pathways that promote resilience in high-risk populations.