London - New mothers who are constantly distracted by their phones may be damaging their child’s mental health, warn scientists.
They said that frequent and erratic interruptions to baby care could affect brain development. This could leave the child prone to depression – and raise his or her risk of becoming hooked on alcohol or drugs as a teenager.
The research was on rats but the US scientists said the implications for people were “profound”. A spokesperson said: “The findings imply that when mothers are nurturing their infants, numerous everyday interruptions – even those seemingly as harmless as phone calls and text messages – can have a long-lasting impact.”
Researchers at The University of California, Irvine, studied how two different types of maternal care affected the brain development of baby rats. Those who received fragmented care as babies were much less interested in playing and in sugar when they reached adolescence than those who had their mothers’ undivided attention.
This is important because anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, can be a forerunner of depression.
Neuroscientist Tallie Baram said in the journal Translational Psychiatry that erratic maternal care may disrupt the delicate wiring of the brain. She added: “The study shows that it is the avoidance of fragmented and unpredictable care that is crucial.
“We might wish to turn off the phone when caring for baby and be consistent.”
Daily Mail