DATE: July 17, 2025 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

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TITLE: Infants show lower stress when carried by mothers instead of being in a stroller, study finds

URL: psypost.org/infants-show-lower…

A study of infants in the Netherlands found that, after a mock bath, infants’ stress levels decreased more quickly when their mothers carried them in a chest carrier compared to when they were placed in a pram. This effect occurred regardless of whether the mothers were walking in nature or staying indoors. In contrast, mothers experienced lower stress levels when they remained indoors. The research was published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Infants depend heavily on their caregivers to regulate their responses to stress. When distressed or uncomfortable, they communicate their needs through crying, facial expressions, and body movements. Responsive caregivers interpret these cues and offer comfort through actions like holding, rocking, or feeding.

Physical closeness—such as being held or carried—helps lower an infant’s heart rate and cortisol levels. Touch, warmth, and soothing voices from caregivers activate calming systems in the infant’s brain. This process, known as “co-regulation,” occurs when the caregiver’s presence and actions help stabilize the infant’s physiological and emotional state.

Through repeated experiences of sensitive caregiving, infants begin to learn how to manage their emotions. These interactions foster trust and support the development of secure attachment. Over time, infants internalize these soothing experiences and gradually become better at regulating themselves.

Study author Nicole Rheinheimer and her colleagues aimed to explore whether a 30-minute outdoor walk would help infants regulate stress after a mild laboratory stressor, compared to staying indoors. They also examined whether being carried in a chest carrier, as opposed to riding in a pram, made a difference. In addition, they investigated whether walking through nature had distinct effects compared to remaining indoors.

The study involved 101 mother-infant pairs recruited via social media and flyers. Mothers received a 25-euro voucher for participating and a book for their infant. The researchers divided participants into four groups. All groups were instructed to give their infant a “mock bath”—undressing the infant, “washing” them with a dry cloth, weighing them, and dressing them again—for 12 minutes. This procedure was intended to serve as a mild stressor.

Afterward, two groups went for a 30-minute walk through a green city forest. One group carried their infants in chest carriers (group 1), while the other used prams (group 2). The remaining two groups stayed indoors. One group carried their infants (group 3), and the other used prams (group 4).

During the experiment, the researchers collected saliva samples from mothers and infants at several time points to measure cortisol levels—a marker of stress. Mothers also completed mood assessments after the mock bath and again after the walk or indoor rest period. The researchers recorded how long the infants slept during the study as well.

The results showed that infants carried in chest carriers experienced a greater decrease in cortisol levels than those placed in prams, regardless of whether their mothers walked outdoors or stayed indoors. Infants whose mothers carried them while walking outdoors also slept longer than those who stayed indoors in a pram.

Mothers who carried their infants also experienced greater decreases in cortisol compared to those who used prams. However, mothers who remained indoors showed a larger reduction in cortisol levels than those who went for a walk.

“The current study points towards the potential benefits of outdoor walking in a natural green environment and infant carrying for infants’ stress levels and sleep as well as for mothers’ stress levels and vigor. In light of these positive effects, the findings may inspire future research on time spent outdoors during infancy,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the physiological aspects of mother-infant interactions. However, study authors note that the infants did not show an increase in cortisol levels after the “mock bath”, indicating that this procedure did not cause stress, but also that the observed decreases did not represent a recovery from that stressor.

The paper, “Effects of outdoor walking and infant carrying on behavioral and adrenocortical outcomes in mothers and infants,” was authored by Nicole Rheinheimer, Stefania V. Vacaru, Simone Kühn, and Carolina de Weert.

URL: psypost.org/infants-show-lower…

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DATE: November 07, 2025 at 11:30AM
SOURCE: ACPE Psychotherapy Commission Events

TITLE: November 7th, 2025 Webinar - "Therapeutic Friendship: Cultivating a Clinical Therapeutic process for deeper connection" with Chris O'Rear (7 Nov 2025)

URL: sip-com.wildapricot.org/event-…

Chris O'Rear

MDiv,LCPT

Description:

The key to success in a process of psychotherapy is the quality of the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client. The quality of this relationship is more than active listening and empathy. This presentation will establish the importance of a clear therapeutic framework for the work of therapy and will assist participants to utilize transference and countertransference to create a deeper connection with clients. This presentation will also emphasize a focus on "process" rather than "content" to assist clients gain insight and create opportunities for significant changes in their life.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to

1. demonstrate the significance of clear therapeutic framework for psychotherapy.

2. identify and utilize transference and countertransference to deepen the therapeutic connection between therapist and client.

3. recognize the presence of process-oriented interventions to deepen connection and the potential for insight.

4. formulate a theoretical connection between process-oriented psychotherapy as theological concept and transformational change.

Continuing Education Credit Available: 1.5 credit hours

ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7004. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

ACPE Provider 2045, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. ACPE maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/01/2024-11/01/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 Social Work Clinical continuing education credits.

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0301.

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #SW-0852.

Accommodations:

Please let us know if you have need of any accommodations. All mental health practitioners interested in learning more about the integration of spirituality in psychotherapy are welcome to attend.

Members:

Do not attempt to renew your membership using this website - please navigate to the www.acpe.edu website to check and renew membership!

CE inquiries can be made directly to Latasha Matthews at latasha.matthews@acpe.edu

URL: sip-com.wildapricot.org/event-…

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