The role of hormones in shaping empathic abilities during pregnancy and the postpartum period: A study with (expectant) mothers and fathers

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Veronika Engert; Dr. Christiane Wesarg-Menzel
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology ; Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 565516704

The proposed study aims to investigate how pregnancy and the early postpartum period influence empathic abilities in (expectant) mothers and fathers. To examine potential mechanisms that could induce changes in empathic abilities, we intend to focus on the role of four different hormones: oxytocin, testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone. While these hormones have been implied in modulating empathic abilities, their concentration systematically changes throughout pregnancy and the early postpartum period in both (expectant) mothers and fathers, potentially preparing them for parenthood. Additionally, the proposed research seeks to understand how empathic abilities relate to sensitive parenting. This is particularly important as empathic abilities are trainable, offering a target for parenting interventions. The outlined research questions shall be addressed in a longitudinal study with N = 168 participants tested at three measurement time points. Fourty-two pregnant women aged between 25-35 years and their male partners will be tested around gestation week 12 (T1), gestation week 36 (T2) and at three months postpartum (T3). A control group of 42 non- expecting couples who have never been parents but express a desire to have children in the long-term will be tested along a comparable timeline. All participants will be asked to complete a computer-based behavioral task measuring empathic abilities at T1, T2, and T3. They will further fill out questionnaires on empathic abilities, stress experience, sleep quality and mood. Expectant parents will provide saliva samples for hormone analyses at each assessment wave, and at two additional timepoints between T1 and T2. Controls will provide saliva samples only at T1, because no systematic changes in hormones are expected to occur. During T3, parents will be recorded during a free play session with their infant, from which sensitive parenting behaviors will be coded. By revealing hormonal influences on empathic abilities during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and the links of empathic abilities and sensitive parenting, this research aims to provide a foundation for future prevention and intervention research aimed at supporting expectant parents in their transition to parenthood.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants