Parental internalizing disorder and the developmental trajectory of infant self-regulation: The moderating role of positive parental behaviors

Abstract

Child self-regulation (SR), a key indicator for later optimal developmental outcomes, may be compromised in the presence of parental mental disorders, especially those characterized by affective dysregulation. However, positive parental behaviors have been shown to buffer against such negative effects, especially during infancy when SR shows great plasticity to environmental inputs. The current study investigated the effect of maternal and paternal lifetime and current internalizing disorders on the developmental trajectory of infant SR from 3 to 24 months, and the potential moderating role of positive parental behaviors. A latent growth model revealed that SR increased overall from 3 to 24 months. Mothers’ positive parental behaviors demonstrated significant moderation effects, such that maternal lifetime internalizing disorder was associated with higher SR intercept only among those with low levels of positive parental behavior. Mothers’ lifetime internalizing disorder was also associated with a lower linear slope in SR development with a moderate effect size. Fathers’ current internalizing disorder was significantly associated with a higher intercept and lower linear slope of the SR trajectory. The current study expands the infant SR literature by describing its early developmental trajectory as well as early risk and protective factors within the parent–infant environment, taking into consideration developmental inputs from both parents.

Positive coparenting previous to the COVID‐19 pandemic can buffer regulatory problems in infants facing the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…In the current study, most families were assessed during a period of several confinement measures implemented in Portugal, namely national lockdown, home confinement, and remote work (DGS, 2020). These confinement measures may have decreased the support from family and friends in childcare while increasing feelings of isolation in mothers and fathers and the demands of parenting during the postpartum period (Chivers et al., 2020; Kusin & Choo, 2021; Kwong et al., 2021), which can have increased mothers' and fathers' mental health problems and disrupted parenting (Chivers et al., 2020; Kusin & Choo, 2021), and consequently infant regulatory problems (Granat et al., 2017; Sun et al., 2020; Væver et al., 2020).…”

Coparenting moderates the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and infant regulatory capacity

“…An additional possible pathway is based on the notion that maternal prenatal depression leads to a higher probability of postnatal depression (Figueiredo et al, 2007). Parental postnatal depressive symptoms may then exacerbate negative coparenting thoughts and interactions, possibly leading to lower levels of coparental cooperation and higher levels of conflict and competition (Bates et al, 2020;Bronte-Tinkew et al, 2009;Tissot et al, 2016;Tissot et al, 2018), and lower regulatory capacity in the infant (Bates et al, 2020;Sun et al, 2020). Coparenting is defined as the reciprocal involvement of both parents in childrearing -including schooling, socialization, responsibilities, and decisions about their children's lives (Feinberg, 2002).…”

Measures of infant self‐regulation during the first year of life: A systematic review

“…Studies' sample size ranged between 15 and 7450 infants (Grenier et al, 2003;Radesky et al, 2014). Infant's ages ranged between 0 and 12 months (Anzman-Frasca et al, 2013;Bates et al, 2021;Cevasco-Trotter et al, 2019;Freedman et al, 2019;Sun et al, 2022;Twohig et al, 2021). A high percentage of studies were qualified as good (78.5%; n = 62) and the remaining studies were qualified as moderate (see Tables 1-3).…”