Temporal Patterns of Infant Regulatory Behaviors in Relation to Maternal Mood and Soothing Strategies.

Mohr C; Gross-Hemmi MH; Meyer AH; Wilhelm FH; Schneider S

doi:10.1007/s10578-018-00862-5

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Journal article

Temporal Patterns of Infant Regulatory Behaviors in Relation to Maternal Mood and Soothing Strategies.

Mohr C Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Massenbergstraße 9 -11, 44787, Bochum, Germany. cornelia.mohr@rub.de.
Gross-Hemmi MH Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Meyer AH Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Wilhelm FH Division of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Schneider S Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Massenbergstraße 9 -11, 44787, Bochum, Germany.

2019-02-03

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Child psychiatry and human development. - 2019

Generalized additive mixed models

English This study investigates the temporal patterning of infant self-regulatory behaviors (crying/fussing, sleeping) in relation to both infant (age, sex, regulatory problems) and maternal variables (soothing behaviors, mood). Self-regulatory and soothing behaviors were assessed in 121 mother-infant dyads (4-44 weeks) by the Baby's Day Diary at 5 min intervals over 3 days. Further infant characteristics and maternal mood were assessed by questionnaires (DASS, CES-D, STAI) and the Diagnostic Interview for the Assessment of Regulatory Problems in Infancy and Toddlerhood. Data were analyzed using generalized additive mixed models. Negative maternal mood was associated with a deviant course of crying/fussing during the day. Body contact was associated with reduced variability in the 24 h course of sleep. Mother-infant transactional processes-above and beyond known relationships with overall levels of crying/fussing and sleeping-might play out on the temporal dimension of infant regulatory behaviors.

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