Journal Article

Temporal Patterns of Infant Regulatory Behaviors in Relation to Maternal Mood and Soothing Strategies

Mohr, Cornelia, Schneider, Silvia, Gross-Hemmi, Mirja H, Meyer, Andrea Hans, Wilhelm, Frank H

2019

Overview

This study investigates the temporal patterning of infant self-regulatory behaviors (crying/fussing, sleeping) in relation to both infant (age, sex, regulatory problems) and maternal variables (soothing behaviors, mood). Self-regulatory and soothing behaviors were assessed in 121 mother-infant dyads (4–44 weeks) by the Baby’s Day Diary at 5 min intervals over 3 days. Further infant characteristics and maternal mood were assessed by questionnaires (DASS, CES-D, STAI) and the Diagnostic Interview for the Assessment of Regulatory Problems in Infancy and Toddlerhood. Data were analyzed using generalized additive mixed models. Negative maternal mood was associated with a deviant course of crying/fussing during the day. Body contact was associated with reduced variability in the 24 h course of sleep. Mother-infant transactional processes—above and beyond known relationships with overall levels of crying/fussing and sleeping—might play out on the temporal dimension of infant regulatory behaviors.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Age / Babies / Behavior / Behavior Problems / Child & adolescent psychiatry / Child Development / Child psychology / Child Rearing / Children & youth / Clinical psychology / Course Evaluation / Crying / Data processing / Depression (Psychology) / Emotions / Individual Differences / Infancy / Infant Behavior / Infants / Influence / Mental health / Modeling (Psychology) / Mothers / Parent Caregiver Relationship / Parenting Styles / Psychological Patterns / Psychotherapy / Questionnaires / Regulation / Self regulation / Sleep / Temporal patterns / Time / Variability / Young Children