Infants' Vagal Regulation in the Still-Face Paradigm Is Related to Dyadic Coordination of Mother-Infant Interaction.

Abstract

Abstract:The authors investigated relations between mother-infant dyadic coordination and infants' physiological responses. Mothers (N = 73) and 3-month-old male and female infants were observed in the still-face paradigm, and mothers' and infants' affective states were coded at 1-s intervals. Synchrony and levels of matching between mother-infant affective states were computed, and infants' heart rate and vagal tone were measured. Infants showed increased negative affect and heart rate and decreased vagal tone during mothers' still-face, indicating physiological regulation of distress. Infants who did not suppress vagal tone during the still-face (nonsuppressors) showed less positive affect, higher reactivity and vagal suppression in normal play and reunion episodes, and lower synchrony in normal play with mothers. The results indicate that infants' physiological regulation in social interaction differs in relation to dyadic coordination of affective behaviors.

Predictors of infant positive, negative and self-direct coping during face to face still-face in a Portuguese preterm sample

“…Stoller and Field (1982) found in full term infant that higher level of smiling was related to the decrease of HR in Still-Face, whereas gaze aversion, crying and negative facial expression were related with HR increasing (Field, 1981). Others reported that infants who increase their HR during Still-Face episode showed less positive affect and higher physical reactivity during normal interactions with their mothers (Moore & Calkins, 2004).…”

Effortful control among low-income preschoolers in three cities: Stability, change, and individual differences.

“…One important aspect of competent parenting is dyadic connectedness, which reflects mutual engagement, shared pleasure, and reciprocity between children and their caregivers. Children with a history of affective and behavioral synchrony may find it less challenging to manage behavior and attention on their own (Feldman, Greenbaum, & Yirmiya, 1999;Moore & Calkins, 2004), especially in the context of high risk (Garner & Spears, 2000;Raver, 1996). In sum, this study first considered whether child-mother connectedness, multiple risk, and child characteristics predict children's effortful control, on average.…”

“…This finding corroborates prior research on contributors to effortful control, which found that responsiveness (Kochanska et al, 2000), cognitive stimulation (Olson et al, 2002), restrictiveness (Olson et al, 2002), and emotional expression foster children's self-regulatory skills. Children who readily engage in dyadic coordination with their mothers may find it less difficult to regulate their behavior and attention independently (Feldman et al, 1999;Garner & Spears, 2000;Moore & Calkins, 2004;Raver, 1996). Additionally, the pleasure of experiencing connectedness may serve as a motivator for children to comply with mothers' expectations that their children manage their own behavior and attention (Maccoby & Martin, 1983), and connectedness may serve as a source of support in the face of challenging situations that demand delayed gratification, especially in the context of high risk.…”

Reactividade infantil e a qualidade da interacção mãe-filho

“…Para além das alterações comportamentais também podemos verificar que, do ponto fisiológico, a condição Still-Face funciona como um stressor de moderado impacto. Na verdade, durante esta trapaça experimental o ritmo cardíaco dos bebés aumenta, a actividade do tónus vagal decai (Haley & Stansbury;Moore & Calkins, 2004), e os níveis de libertação de cortisona aumentam (Haley & Stansbury, 2003;Ramsay & Lewis, 2003;Lewis & Ramsay, 2005). Estes resultados demonstram que embora o Still-Face não seja previsivelmente uma situação traumática com efeitos permanentes, localmente afecta a regulação emocional.…”

“…Os estilos de reactividade apresentados são sintomáticos da capacidade de auto-regulação emocional. Os bebés com índices superiores de reactividade negativa tendem a desesperar mais cedo, demorar mais tempo a conformar-se e atingem níveis superiores de perturbação comportamental e fisiológica (e.g., Moore & Calkins, 2004;Tronick & Cohn, 1989). Cohn, Campbell e Ross (1991) verificaram que os bebés classificados como seguros na Situação Estranha de Ainsworth (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) apresentavam maior probabilidade de emitir respostas positivas enquanto as suas mães mantinham uma expressão facial "parada".…”