Robust stability and physiological correlates of infants’ patterns of regulatory behavior in the still-face paradigm at 3 and 9 months.

Abstract

This study examined the stability of three patterns of infant regulatory behavior identified in the face-to-face still-face (FFSF) paradigm at 3 and 9 months-social-positive oriented, distressedinconsolable, and self-comfort oriented-and whether variations in infants' heart-rate were correlated with them. Although some studies have examined the stability of discrete infant behaviors, none have investigated the stability of early regulatory patterns across FFSF episodes over time. Healthy full-term infants and their mothers (N ϭ 112) were videotaped in the FFSF when infants were 3 and 9 months old. Infants' regulatory patterns were scored with the Coding System for Regulatory Patterns in the FFSF. Infants' heart-rate level during each episode of the FFSF was also assessed. The social-positive-oriented pattern was the most prevalent at both ages. Cross-tabulation analysis showed a robust stability (Cohen's ϭ .72) of the regulatory patterns from 3 to 9 months. The heart-rate level of infants with a social-positive-oriented pattern at 3 and 9 months showed recovery to baseline levels following the still-face. In contrast, the heart-rate level of infants with a distressed-inconsolable pattern at 9 months increased from the still-face to the reunion episode, whereas the heart-rate level of infants with a self-comfort-oriented pattern at 9 months did not change from the still-face to the reunion episodes. These results suggest that infants exhibit distinct organized regulatory patterns as early as 3 months that are stable over a 6-month interval and associated with variations in infants' physiological responses across FFSF episodes at both ages.

Patterns of regulatory behavior in the still-face paradigm at 3 months: A comparison of Brazilian and Portuguese infants

“…The most common regulatory pattern observed for infants in the Brazilian sample was the Distressed-Inconsolable Oriented pattern (44.6%), followed by the Social-Positive Oriented (36.5%) and the Self-Comfort Oriented patterns (18.9%). In contrast, the distribution of regulatory patterns for infants in the Portuguese sample was consistent with those reported in other Portuguese samples [ 7 ]. The most common regulatory pattern for the Portuguese infants was the Social-Positive Oriented pattern (53.2%), followed by the Distressed-Inconsolable (35.5%) and the Self-Comfort Oriented patterns (13.3%).…”

“…Follow-up studies suggest that these early-emerging regulatory behavior patterns are relatively stable from 3 to 9 months of age [ 7 ] and are associated with variations in maternal interactive behavior in other contexts [ 8 ], and infants’ attachment security at age one [ 10 , 11 ]. Despite the apparent relevance of these patterns for infants’ socioemotional development, very few studies have examined the distribution of these regulatory patterns outside US and European countries, or evaluated whether these patterns differ across countries or in different socio-demographic contexts.…”

Family SES and maternal sensitivity predict infant patterns of regulatory behavior in Brazilian dyads

“…In the present study, the distribution of the three patterns of infant regulatory behavior (Social-Positive Oriented, Distressed-Inconsolable, Self-Comfort Oriented) observed at 3 months in the FFSF is distinct to that reported in other studies conducted with infants at the same age. While in US and European studies (e.g., [6,8,10,24]) the Social-Positive Oriented pattern is the most prevalent pattern (ranging from 52% to 57%), in this sample it is the Distressed-Inconsolable. The Social-Positive Oriented pattern, an indicator of the infant ability to soothe his/her emotions in the context of reciprocal and positive interactions, was exhibited only by 32.5% of the sample while in most studies it is above 50%.…”

“…US and European studies reported, in samples with low risk, that the Positive Others Oriented pattern is the most prevalent (e.g., [6,8,9]). In Portuguese studies with full-term infants, the Social-Positive Oriented pattern is the most prevalent (around 54% of the cases), followed by the Distressed-Inconsolable (around 35% of the cases) and by the Self-Comfort Oriented (around 11% of the cases) [10,11]. These patterns are relatively stable from 3 to 9 months of age [10] and are associated with infant-mother attachment [12,13], indicating their relevance for infant's socioemotional development.…”

Predicting Patterns of Regulatory Behavior in the Still‐Face Paradigm at 3 Months

“…More than half (55.1%) of the cases were classified as Social‐Positive Oriented, 10.2% as Distressed‐Inconsolable, and 34.7% as Self‐Comfort Oriented. Recently, using this coding system in a sample of healthy full‐term infants, Barbosa, Beeghly, Moreira, Tronick, & Fuertes () found a robust stability of these three patterns of regulatory behavior in the FFSF at 3 and 9 months. Overall, 84% of the 112 infants received the same classification at 3 and 9 months.…”