Few studies have examined the associations between environmental conditions and developing infant emotionality or the differential susceptibility to those conditions. The present longitudinal study aims to make a contribution to close that gap. We analyzed whether positive emotionality, negative emotionality0irritability, and withdrawal0fear at the end of the first year of life are predictable from preceding caregiver's depression0anxiety, social support, and sensitivity in the interaction with the infant while controlling for antecedent states of emotionality. Furthermore, the question of whether associations between maternal characteristics and subsequent fear are stronger in the subgroup of infants high in irritability as opposed to those who are low in irritability was investigated. Subjects were 101 healthy firstborn infants and their primary caregivers. Assessments were conducted at infant ages of 4, 8, and 12 months. Depression, anxiety, and the social support of the caregiver were assessed by questionnaire. Sensitivity in the caregiver-infant interaction was assessed by behavior observations within the scope of home visits. Temperament characteristics were observed in standardized laboratory episodes. Whereas negative emotionality and withdrawal0fear were significantly predictable from the maternal characteristics, no predictability could be shown for developing positive emotionality. There were indications of a stronger association between the maternal characteristics and developing withdrawal0fear in irritable infants.
It was hypothesized that an accumulation of unfavorable conditions, i.e., high negative emotionality and low positive emotionality of the infant, maternal depression and anxiety, and lacking social and emotional support can attenuate mothers' reactivity/sensitivity. Maternal reactivity/sensitivity was observed during home visits and in the laboratory. Infant negative and positive emotionality was assessed by mother reports and behavioral observations. Maternal depressiveness/anxiety as well as social support were assessed via questionnaires. All mothers were primiparous and had healthy infants. Data collection was conducted at the infants' ages of four months (37 dyads) and eight months (33 dyads). The sample consisted of 19 male and 18 female infants (four-months' measurement). Whereas the presence of a single risk factor was not related to maternal reactivity/sensitivity, the combination was. A decrease in maternal reactivity/sensitivity over the course of time was demonstrated for mothers who had to deal with high negative emotionality of the infant in combination with either high depressiveness/anxiety or low social support at the infants' age of four months. No significant main or interaction effects could be shown for infant positive emotionality.RESUMEN: Se ha desarrollado una hipótesis que sostiene que una acumulación de condiciones desfavorables atenúa la reacción y la susceptibilidad de las madres. Entre estas condiciones se pueden citar las siguientes: un nivel altamente negativo de emotividad y la baja emotividad positiva del infante; la depresión maternal; la ansiedad y la falta de apoyo social y emocional. Este fenómeno de reacción/susceptibilidad maternal fue observado durante las visitas a casa y dentro del laboratorio. Tanto la negativa como la positiva emotividad del infante fueron evaluadas por medio de los informes de la madre y las observaciones de la conducta. La depresión/ansiedad de la madre, así como el apoyo social, fueron evaluados por medio de cuestionarios. Todas las madres eran primerizas y tenían infantes saludables. La recolección de los datos fue llevada a cabo cuando los infantes tenían 4 meses de nacidos (37 parejas de infantes-madre) y 8 meses (33 parejas). El grupo muestra estaba compuesto de 19 varones y 18 niñas (con respecto a la evaluación a los 4 meses). En aquellos casos en los que la presencia de un solo factorThe authors would like to thank PD Dr. C. Schubring, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Evangelical Hospital Giessen, as well as the neonatal nurses for the friendly cooperation with which they supported the present study. Special thanks also to the families who participated in the study. Direct correspondence to: Ulla Bade, Department of Medical Psychology, University of Giessen, Friedrichstrasse 36, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; e-mail: Ulla.Bade@psycho.med.uni-giessen.de. • B. Mertesacker et al.de riesgo no estuvo relacionado con la reacción/susceptibilidad de la madre, la combinación de factores si lo estuvo. Se demostró una baja...
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