Erickson SJ, Kubinec N, Vaccaro S, Moss N, Avila-Rieger R, Rowland A, Lowe JR. The role of maternal interactive behavior and gestational age in predicting infant affect during the Still-Face Paradigm.
Early Hum Dev 2021;
163:105485. [PMID:
34649191 DOI:
10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105485]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Emotion regulation develops through bidirectional affective communication.
AIM
To investigate the role of maternal interactive behavior in predicting infant affect among preterm versus full-term infants.
STUDY DESIGN
The association between maternal interactive behavior (contingent, attention seeking, watching) and infant affect during a modified Still Face (SF) paradigm in a sample of 22 preterm and 28 full term infants (3 ½ - 4 ½ months old) was investigated.
METHODS
Maternal behavior and infant affect were coded in one second intervals.
RESULTS
Maternal contingent interaction was positively correlated with positive infant affect (p < 0.001 for Play; p < 0.001 for Reunion#1; p < 0.01 for Reunion#2, respectively), with a stronger association during the second reunion for preterm infants (p < 0.001). In the preterm sample but not in the full-term sample, attention seeking maternal interaction at Play (baseline), Reunion#1, and Reunion#2 were all positively correlated with negative infant affect at Still Face#2. Maternal watching was negatively associated with positive infant affect for the full sample for both Reunion episodes (p < 0.05). Full term infants' negative affect increased from baseline to the first SF episode and then plateaued, whereas preterm infants demonstrated greater negative affect and less recovery throughout. Mothers of full-term infants showed increased contingent responding after the first SF stressor, while mothers of preterm infants did not (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Preterm infants may be more susceptible to both positive and negative maternal behaviors and mothers of full-term infants may be more responsive to infants' increased distress. Relationship-focused interventions addressing maternal behaviors may enhance positive emotionality and improve self-regulation in medically at-risk infants.
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