EFFECTS OF A PARENTING INTERVENTION ON OXTR METHYLATION
Date
2025-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
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.