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

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically review the measures used to assess infant self‐regulation during the first 12 months of life. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis statement protocol. From 235 selected papers, 79 provided information on behavioural and physiological measures to assess infant self‐regulation during the first 12 months of life. Thirty‐six behavioural (30 observational and 6 parent‐report) and five physiological different measures were identified. Studies with a longitudinal design, comprising larger samples, and aiming to assess infant self‐regulation later in infancy, mostly used behavioural measures than physiological measures. Studies comprising lower samples and aiming to assess infant self‐regulation earlier in infancy, mostly used observational than parent‐reported measures. Studies targeting younger infants used physiological measures and studies targeting older infants used behavioural measures, with observational measures used with younger infants and parental‐reported measures used with older infants during the first year of life. When measuring self‐regulation is important to consider infant's age, to fit the measurement procedures with the self‐regulation development level.

Is lower fetal heart rate variability a susceptibility marker to the impact of negative coparenting on infant regulatory capacity?

“…Moreover, parent‐reported measures have a major advantage. Parent‐reported measures allow the assessment of infant regulatory capacity in daily routine situations across a variety of contexts where parents have more opportunities to observe the infant than an observer (Pinto & Figueiredo, 2023; Rothbart et al., 2011). As most study variables were generated by the same informants, a common‐method variance may have inflated the links between the mother's and father's coparenting and infant regulatory capacity.…”

“…Although both mothers and fathers reported on their infant regulatory capacity, only the orienting regulation scores reported by the primary caregiver were included in the analysis (mostly mothers; see Table 1). The reports of primary caregiver were used, considering that previous literature suggests that they are reliable informants of infant regulatory behaviors (e.g., Pinto & Figueiredo, 2023; Rothbart et al., 2011).…”