The influence of infant irritability on maternal sensitivity in a sample of very premature infants

Abstract

Published paper ABSTRACTThe relationship between maternal sensitivity and infant irritability was investigated in a short-term longitudinal study of 29 very preterm infants. Infant irritability was assessed at term with the Brazelton NBAS, the Mother and Baby Scales (MABS) and the Crying Pattern Questionnaire (CPQ). Maternal sensitivity was assessed by nurses' ratings in the neonatal care unit and at three months during motherinfant interaction observation. Cross-lagged panel analysis indicated that neonatal irritability did not influence sensitivity at 3 months nor did maternal sensitivity in the newborn period lead to reduced irritability at 3 months. Both irritability and maternal sensitivity showed moderate stability over time (r=.55 and r=.60, respectively). It is concluded that in early infancy maternal sensitivity shows little influence on infant irritability in very preterm infants.

Effects of maternal sensitivity on low birth weight children's academic achievement: a test of differential susceptibility versus diathesis stress

“…There is reason to suspect that LBW infants may prove particularly susceptible to developmental experiences and environmental exposures. Perhaps most notably, they often show increased negative emotionality (Meier, Wolke, Gutbrod, & Rust, ) and such negativity early in life, including when prenatally ‘programmed’, has been found to operate as a plasticity factor (Pluess & Belsky, ), making children more susceptible ‘for better and for worse’. Thus, while it is well established that LBW slightly increases the risk of adverse outcomes, it may also make children more susceptible to positive environmental inputs.…”

Estudio De La Interacción Mamá-Bebé Prematuro a Través De La Escala Brazelton Y Algunas Implicaciones Sobre La Salud Mental De Las Madres

“…Vale la pena preguntarse: ¿tendrá la sensibilidad materna relación con la irritabilidad del bebé prematuro en la interacción madre-bebé? Meier, Wolke, Gutbrod & Rust (2003) estudiaron la relación entre irritabilidad y sensibilidad materna en 29 niños prematuros y sus madres. Ellos definieron como "sensiblidad" a la capacidad materna para reconocer, interpretar y responder apropiadamente a la comunicación y a las necesidades del bebé.…”

Toddler emotional states, temperamental traits, and their interaction: Associations with mothers’ and fathers’ parenting

“…In general, more frequent positive emotion expression in children is linked with greater parent sensitivity (Braungart-Rieker, Garwood, Powers, & Wang, 2001; Miller, McDonough, Rosenblum, & Sameroff, 2002) and more frequent negative emotion expression with less sensitivity (Braungart-Rieker et al, 2001; Feldman, Dollberg, & Nadam, 2011; Miller et al, 2002; Mills-Koonce et al, 2007; Nozadi et al, 2013; Owens, Shaw & Vondra, 1998; Scaramella et al, 2008). Yet, other studies find that observed negative emotion expression is unrelated to parent sensitivity (Meier et al, 2003; Mills-Koonce et al, 2007; Pauli-Pott et al, 2000), or that more negative emotion expression is associated with greater parental responsiveness (Crockenberg & Smith, 1982). …”

“…during free play vs. frustrating task) or for certain parenting behaviors but not others (Calkins et al, 2004; Ciciolla, Crnic & West, 2013; Mills-Koonce et al, 2007). Lastly, a few studies find negative affectivity is with more sensitive parenting (Meier, Wolke, Gutbrod & Rust, 2003; Washington, Minde, & Goldberg, 1986; Zahr, 1991). …”