A agressão maternal tem como função preservar a vida da prole. O desenvolvimento desse comportamento depende vastamente do reconhecimento do adversário como uma ameaça potencial e esse reconhecimento envolve a detecção de pistas feromonais. O núcleo pré-mamilar ventral (PMv) é um dos principais alvos do núcleo medial da amígdala, que representa o setor amigdalar crítico para o processamento de pistas feromonais. Desta forma, postulamos que possivelmente o PMv seja sensível às pistas feromonais do macho intruso, servindo como uma possível interface para os sistemas neurais envolvidos na agressão maternal. Neste sentido, inicialmente avaliamos o padrão de ativação do PMv, bem como alguns de seus alvos de projeção, durante o comportamento maternal e durante a agressão maternal. Notamos que tanto o PMv como a maioria de seus alvos principais (tais como, o núcleo posterior da amígdala, a parte posterodorsal do núcleo medial da amígdala, a área hipotalâmica lateral tuberal e a parte ventrolateral do núcleo ventromedial) apresentam um aumento significativo na expressão da proteína Fos durante a agressão maternal. Em seguida, avaliamos o papel do PMv na organização neural do comportamento de agressão maternal, em ratas lactantes portadoras de lesões citotóxicas com NMDA do PMv. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo demonstram que as fêmeas lactantes com lesão no PMv não apresentam qualquer alteração nos parâmetros comportamentais relacionados ao comportamento maternal, mas apresentam uma significante diminuição no comportamento agressivo maternal. Observamos ainda, que a lesão citotóxica do PMv resultou numa drástica diminuição da expressão da proteína Fos em alguns sítios de projeção do PMv que se apresentavam mobilizados durante a agressão maternal (tais como a parte ventrolateral do hipotálamo ventromedial, a área hipotalâmica lateral tuberal e o núcleo pré-óptico medial), sugerindo a participação destes sítios neurais como críticos na expressão do comportamento de agressão maternal. / Maternal aggression is critical to preserve the litters from male intruders, and the pheromonal cues from the males are important to drive such responses. The ventral premamillary nucleus (PMv) is one of the main targets of the medial amygdalar nucleus, and is critically involved in processing pheromonal information. In this regard, in the present study, we investigated whether the PMv would work as a putative interface between the pheromonal processing of the male intruder and the neural sites potentially involved in the expression of maternal aggression. First, we analyzed the pattern of Fos expression in dams expressing aggressive maternal behavior, and found a significant increase in Fos levels in the PMv, as well as, in most of its main targets, such as the posterior amygdalar nucleus, the posterodorsal part of the medial amygdalar nucleus, the tuberal nucleus of the lateral hypothalamic area, and the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus. Next, we examined how NMDA lesions bilaterally placed in the PMv would interfere in maternal aggression, and found that dams bearing those lesions presented a significant reduction in the expression of aggressive behavior, but showed no alterations on the maternal behavior responses. Moreover, we were able to see that PMv lesions resulted in significant drop in Fos expression in selected PMv targets, namely the tuberal nucleus of the lateral hypothalamic area and the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus, likely to be critically involved in the expression of the maternal aggression. Overall, the present results support the idea that the PMv is seemingly a key site in the network controlling maternal aggression; on one hand, the nucleus is likely to processes pheromonal cues from the intruder male, and, on the other, it conveys this information to sites critically related to the expression of maternal aggression.

A agressão maternal tem como função preservar a vida da prole. O desenvolvimento desse comportamento depende vastamente do reconhecimento do adversário como uma ameaça potencial e esse reconhecimento envolve a detecção de pistas feromonais. O núcleo pré-mamilar ventral (PMv) é um dos principais alvos do núcleo medial da amígdala, que representa o setor amigdalar crítico para o processamento de pistas feromonais. Desta forma, postulamos que possivelmente o PMv seja sensível às pistas feromonais do macho intruso, servindo como uma possível interface para os sistemas neurais envolvidos na agressão maternal. Neste sentido, inicialmente avaliamos o padrão de ativação do PMv, bem como alguns de seus alvos de projeção, durante o comportamento maternal e durante a agressão maternal. Notamos que tanto o PMv como a maioria de seus alvos principais (tais como, o núcleo posterior da amígdala, a parte posterodorsal do núcleo medial da amígdala, a área hipotalâmica lateral tuberal e a parte ventrolateral do núcleo ventromedial) apresentam um aumento significativo na expressão da proteína Fos durante a agressão maternal. Em seguida, avaliamos o papel do PMv na organização neural do comportamento de agressão maternal, em ratas lactantes portadoras de lesões citotóxicas com NMDA do PMv. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo demonstram que as fêmeas lactantes com lesão no PMv não apresentam qualquer alteração nos parâmetros comportamentais relacionados ao comportamento maternal, mas apresentam uma significante diminuição no comportamento agressivo maternal. Observamos ainda, que a lesão citotóxica do PMv resultou numa drástica diminuição da expressão da proteína Fos em alguns sítios de projeção do PMv que se apresentavam mobilizados durante a agressão maternal (tais como a parte ventrolateral do hipotálamo ventromedial, a área hipotalâmica lateral tuberal e o núcleo pré-óptico medial), sugerindo a participação destes sítios neurais como críticos na expressão do comportamento de agressão maternal. / Maternal aggression is critical to preserve the litters from male intruders, and the pheromonal cues from the males are important to drive such responses. The ventral premamillary nucleus (PMv) is one of the main targets of the medial amygdalar nucleus, and is critically involved in processing pheromonal information. In this regard, in the present study, we investigated whether the PMv would work as a putative interface between the pheromonal processing of the male intruder and the neural sites potentially involved in the expression of maternal aggression. First, we analyzed the pattern of Fos expression in dams expressing aggressive maternal behavior, and found a significant increase in Fos levels in the PMv, as well as, in most of its main targets, such as the posterior amygdalar nucleus, the posterodorsal part of the medial amygdalar nucleus, the tuberal nucleus of the lateral hypothalamic area, and the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus. Next, we examined how NMDA lesions bilaterally placed in the PMv would interfere in maternal aggression, and found that dams bearing those lesions presented a significant reduction in the expression of aggressive behavior, but showed no alterations on the maternal behavior responses. Moreover, we were able to see that PMv lesions resulted in significant drop in Fos expression in selected PMv targets, namely the tuberal nucleus of the lateral hypothalamic area and the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus, likely to be critically involved in the expression of the maternal aggression. Overall, the present results support the idea that the PMv is seemingly a key site in the network controlling maternal aggression; on one hand, the nucleus is likely to processes pheromonal cues from the intruder male, and, on the other, it conveys this information to sites critically related to the expression of maternal aggression.

O nascimento prematuro e a hospitalização do filho na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatal (UCIN) determina à mulher vivenciar a experiência de tornar-se mãe em um contexto adverso. A maioria dos estudos de enfermagem explora a experiência da mãe na UCIN, e poucos são os que focam a parentalidade. A presente pesquisa visa contribuir nesse âmbito a partir da descrição da experiência da mulher de tornar-se mãe quando vive a estada de seu filho prematuro na UCIN. A pesquisa de narrativa foi estratégia metodológica selecionada em função de possibilitar a extração, análise e compreensão de histórias pessoais vividas. Este estudo analisou a narrativa de doze mulheres e, pautou o processo analítico no referencial teórico do Interacionismo Simbólico. Foi possível estabelecer uma narrativa tradutora da experiência a partir de três grandes núcleos temáticos vividos na UCIN: PROTEGER O FILHO, APRENDER E SENTIR-SE MÃE. Os mesmos traduzem intenções, sentimentos, ações e estratégias integrantes da experiência e, são influenciados pelo núcleo temático SENTE-SE RESPONSÁVEL PELO FILHO, relativo ao período gestacional. Os aprendizados são elementos fundamentais do processo por apoiarem a mulher na determinação do como fazer para se inserir e ser presente junto do filho. Os conceitos desvelados pelo estudo permitem a revisão de práticas clínicas de enfermagem e sinalizam para a necessidade de pesquisas de enfermagem neste âmbito / The premature birth and the sun’s hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), impose women to experience becoming a mother in an adverse context. The majority of nursing studies explore the mother experience in the NICU, only some studies focus on parenthood. The present study aim to collaborate in this aspect, describing the experience of women in becoming a mother when their premature sun is hospitalized in the NICU. Narrative research was the methodological strategy option as it provides the opportunity to extract, to analyze and to comprehend personal lived stories. This study explored the narratives of twelve women, and structured the analytic process on the theoretical reference of Symbolic Interactionism. It was possible to establish an integrative narrative of the experience of becoming a mother through three core themes: TO PROTECT THE SUN; TO LEARN and TO FEEL AS A MOTHER. The themes represent intensions, actions, feelings and strategies adopted by mothers and are influenced by the theme FEELING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUN, which is related to the pregnancy period. The knowledge gained through out the process are fundamental aspects as they support women to manage their way of how to be present and how to do things for their sun. The concepts revealed in the study allowed the review of clinical practices in Nursing and point out the necessity of nursing research in this area

It is well documented that exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively affects children’s developmental outcomes (Chan & Yeung, 2009; Evans, Davies & DiLillo, 2008) and may lead to the expression of symptomatology consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Graham-Bermann, De Voe, Mattis, Lynch & Thomas, 2006; Kilpatrick & Williams,1998). Currently there is no consensus as to the nature of the influence of mother-child relationships on child outcomes such as post-traumatic stress symptoms in IPV-exposed families. The present study examined the role of maternal influences, such as the quality of mother-child interaction, maternal depression, and maternal violence history on sibling trauma outcomes. Results indicated that increased maternal depressive symptoms, maternal violence history, and negative mother-child interactions did not significantly predict post-traumatic stress symptoms in siblings exposed to IPV. Findings provided support for the notion of maternal compensatory strategies used to protect siblings from the detrimental consequences of IPV exposure.

It is well documented that exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively affects children’s developmental outcomes (Chan & Yeung, 2009; Evans, Davies & DiLillo, 2008) and may lead to the expression of symptomatology consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Graham-Bermann, De Voe, Mattis, Lynch & Thomas, 2006; Kilpatrick & Williams,1998). Currently there is no consensus as to the nature of the influence of mother-child relationships on child outcomes such as post-traumatic stress symptoms in IPV-exposed families. The present study examined the role of maternal influences, such as the quality of mother-child interaction, maternal depression, and maternal violence history on sibling trauma outcomes. Results indicated that increased maternal depressive symptoms, maternal violence history, and negative mother-child interactions did not significantly predict post-traumatic stress symptoms in siblings exposed to IPV. Findings provided support for the notion of maternal compensatory strategies used to protect siblings from the detrimental consequences of IPV exposure.

O nascimento prematuro e a hospitalização do filho na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatal (UCIN) determina à mulher vivenciar a experiência de tornar-se mãe em um contexto adverso. A maioria dos estudos de enfermagem explora a experiência da mãe na UCIN, e poucos são os que focam a parentalidade. A presente pesquisa visa contribuir nesse âmbito a partir da descrição da experiência da mulher de tornar-se mãe quando vive a estada de seu filho prematuro na UCIN. A pesquisa de narrativa foi estratégia metodológica selecionada em função de possibilitar a extração, análise e compreensão de histórias pessoais vividas. Este estudo analisou a narrativa de doze mulheres e, pautou o processo analítico no referencial teórico do Interacionismo Simbólico. Foi possível estabelecer uma narrativa tradutora da experiência a partir de três grandes núcleos temáticos vividos na UCIN: PROTEGER O FILHO, APRENDER E SENTIR-SE MÃE. Os mesmos traduzem intenções, sentimentos, ações e estratégias integrantes da experiência e, são influenciados pelo núcleo temático SENTE-SE RESPONSÁVEL PELO FILHO, relativo ao período gestacional. Os aprendizados são elementos fundamentais do processo por apoiarem a mulher na determinação do como fazer para se inserir e ser presente junto do filho. Os conceitos desvelados pelo estudo permitem a revisão de práticas clínicas de enfermagem e sinalizam para a necessidade de pesquisas de enfermagem neste âmbito / The premature birth and the sun’s hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), impose women to experience becoming a mother in an adverse context. The majority of nursing studies explore the mother experience in the NICU, only some studies focus on parenthood. The present study aim to collaborate in this aspect, describing the experience of women in becoming a mother when their premature sun is hospitalized in the NICU. Narrative research was the methodological strategy option as it provides the opportunity to extract, to analyze and to comprehend personal lived stories. This study explored the narratives of twelve women, and structured the analytic process on the theoretical reference of Symbolic Interactionism. It was possible to establish an integrative narrative of the experience of becoming a mother through three core themes: TO PROTECT THE SUN; TO LEARN and TO FEEL AS A MOTHER. The themes represent intensions, actions, feelings and strategies adopted by mothers and are influenced by the theme FEELING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUN, which is related to the pregnancy period. The knowledge gained through out the process are fundamental aspects as they support women to manage their way of how to be present and how to do things for their sun. The concepts revealed in the study allowed the review of clinical practices in Nursing and point out the necessity of nursing research in this area

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L'une des influences les mieux documentées dans la prédiction des problèmes de comportements externalisés et internalisés des enfants est la qualité de la relation mère-enfant, souvent opérationnalisée par la sécurité d’attachement et la qualité des comportements maternels. Cependant, bien que ces deux variables soient reliées empiriquement et théoriquement, elles n’ont pas été examinées simultanément dans la prédiction des problèmes de comportements des enfants. Ce mémoire visait à examiner les contributions uniques de deux mesures de sécurité d’attachement ainsi que des comportements maternels (mesurés par la sensibilité maternelle et le soutien maternel à l’autonomie) dans la prédiction des problèmes de comportements des enfants. L’échantillon comprenait 73 dyades mère-enfant. Les comportements maternels ont été mesurés lorsque les enfants étaient âgés entre 15 mois et 2 ans. Les problèmes de comportements internalisés et externalisés des enfants ont été rapportés par leurs professeurs en maternelle et en première année d’école. Les résultats montrent que les deux mesures d’attachement ainsi que les comportements maternels expliquent une portion comparable de la variance des problèmes de comportements anxieux/dépressifs des enfants. Ensemble, ils prédisent trois fois plus de variance que les variables considérées séparément. Les recherches futures devraient considérer une approche multi-méthodes pour mesurer la qualité de la relation mère-enfant, du moins lorsqu’elles tentent d’expliquer le développement des comportements internalisés des enfants. / One of the best-documented predictors of young children’s externalizing and internalizing behavior problems is the quality of mother-child relationships, often operationalized through attachment security and the quality of maternal behaviors. However, although empirically and theoretically interrelated, these aspects of mother-child relationships have not been considered simultaneously in the prediction of children's behavior problems. In addition, attachment is often measured once only, despite its modest stability. This paper aimed to examine the contributions of two assessments of attachment security along with assessments of maternal behaviors (sensitivity and autonomy support) to the prediction of children’s behavior problems. The sample included 73 mother-child dyads. Maternal behaviors and mother-child attachment were assessed when children were between 15 months and 2 years old. Children's internalizing and externalizing problems were reported by their teachers in kindergarten and first grade. The results indicated that each assessment of attachment security and maternal behaviors explained a comparable portion of the variance in children’s anxious/depressed behaviors, together predicting more than three times the variance that would have been explained by either measure of attachment alone. Researchers should consider a multidimensional approach to the assessment of the quality of mother-child relationships, at least when attempting to explain the development of child internalizing problems.

De nombreuses études empiriques ont démontré que la qualité des relations parent-enfant est importante pour le développement des fonctions exécutives (FE) des enfants. Cependant, la majorité des études ont porté sur des échantillons de mères ou de pères, mais non des deux. Le présent mémoire contient un article empirique qui poursuit deux buts. Premièrement, l’article a examiné la contribution unique de la qualité des interactions mère-enfant et père-enfant avec leur bambin (toddler) à la prédiction des FE en milieu scolaire. Deuxièmement, l’article a investigué les effets d'interactions entre la qualité des relations mère-enfant et père-enfant. L’étude a été menée auprès de 46 familles intactes (mère-père-enfant). Lorsque les enfants avaient 18 mois, la qualité des interactions mère-enfant et père-enfant a été mesurée par observation de séquences indépendantes de jeu avec le Mutually Responsive Orientation scale. À la maternelle, les problèmes exécutifs des enfants furent rapportés par le professeur à l’aide du Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Les résultats indiquent que les enfants qui ont des interactions de meilleure qualité avec leur père à 18 mois sont ensuite considérés par leur professeur de maternelle comme ayant moins de déficits exécutifs. Cela suggère que la relation père-enfant peut être un facteur important à considérer en ce qui concerne le développement des FE des enfants. Les implications théoriques et empiriques ainsi que les implications pratiques, notamment celles concernant les professeurs, sont abordées lors de la conclusion de ce mémoire. / There is increasing evidence that the quality of parent-child relationships is important for the development of young children’s executive functioning (EF). However, studies have focused on samples of either mother-child or father-child dyads, not both. The present master’s thesis includes an empirical article pursuing two aims. First, the article examined the unique contributions of the quality of mothers’ and fathers’ interactions with their toddlers to the prediction of children’s subsequent EF in kindergarten. Second, the article investigated the interactive effects of mother-child and father-child relationships. The sample included 46 families. The quality of mother-child and father-child interactions was assessed independently during separate interactive sequences at 18 months. In kindergarten, child EF problems were reported by their teachers with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Results indicated that kindergarteners who had higher-quality interactions with their fathers in toddlerhood were considered by their teachers to present fewer EF problems in everyday school situations. This suggests that father-child relationships may be an important factor to consider regarding the development of EF in children. Theoretical and empirical implications as well as practical implications, particularly for teachers, are discussed at the conclusion of this master’s thesis.