Background: Research suggests that prenatal depression is associated with disrupted maternal responses to infant stimuli, with depressed women not showing the bias towards distressed infants observed in non depressed women (Pearson, 2010). The current study examined depression related differences in women’s self reported responses to infant stimuli, early in pregnancy, investigating if maternal responses in pregnancy are more associated with a reduced comforting response, or a heightened avoidant response. Method: Women in this study were referred by community midwives as part of a cohort study. Pregnant women with clinical depression (n=38), and comparison non-depressed women (n=67), were exposed to images of distressed, neutral and happy infant faces. The women were asked to rate how they responded to the images, along three scales: wanting to comfort, wanting to turn away, and feelings of anxiety. Results: Women with depression showed significantly different response patterns to women without depression. Women with depression were substantially more likely to be in the highest quartile for ratings of wanting to turn away from distressed infant faces (odds ratio 4.15, p<.01, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.63-10.5). They were also substantially less likely to be in the highest quartile for wanting to comfort a distressed infant face (odds ratio .22, p<.01, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = .09-.54). Conclusions: The findings from this study are consistent with both a heightened avoidant and a reduced comforting response towards distressed infants in depressed pregnant women. This study provides further evidence that depression disrupts maternal preparations at a conscious level. Keyword: Depression; Maternal Responsiveness; Self Report; Pregnancy; Prenatal; Perinatal.

Maternal responsiveness to infant needs is critical to child development. Few studies have attempted to identify basic processes that underlie responsiveness. Parenting theory suggests that distress tolerance (DT) may be important to understanding dysfunctional parenting. Distress tolerance refers to an individual’s ability to withstand subjective internal distress (e.g., uncomfortable thoughts, feelings). Despite its significance in the study of psychopathology, DT is not a well validated construct. Thus, the primary objectives of the present study were 1) to validate the construct of DT in a sample of perinatal women, and 2) to examine the concurrent and longitudinal associations between perinatal DT and maternal responsiveness. Eighty-six pregnant women in their third trimester and their respective informants completed an online survey of DT. At 4-months postpartum, a research team collected observational assessments of maternal responsiveness and a second assessment of self-reported DT. Factorial validity of DT was demonstrated through confirmatory factor analysis and suggested that DT is best represented as a multidimensional construct. Convergent validity of DT was demonstrated by small to moderate correlations (r’s = .16-.53) between self- and informant ratings of DT. Results of path analyses demonstrated a small association (r=.19) between prenatal DT and responsiveness; however, no association was found between postpartum DT and responsiveness. These findings suggest that targeting DT during pregnancy may improve outcomes for women and their infants. Distress tolerance skills are used in a number of empirically supported psychotherapies. Similarly, these skills could be incorporated into existing prenatal programs and parenting interventions to increase responsiveness and, ultimately, improve child outcomes.

A baby’s early experiences have a crucial effect on their later development and adjustment. Early maternal sensitivity is a concept which has been associated with a crucial influence on these later child outcomes, including behavioural outcomes. Results from large longitudinal population based studies have provided conflicting evidence in relation to early maternal sensitivity, particularly sensitivity to non-distress, and later child behaviour and a need for further research in this area exists. The current study investigated early maternal sensitivity and its association with later child behaviour in a UK based population sample using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The study used a subsample of 766 mother-infant pairs who had data on observed maternal responsiveness at 12 months and on child behavioural difficulties derived from the Revised Rutter Parent Scale for Preschool Children at 42 months. Data for a number of potentially confounding variables, including maternal and child-based variables were also included in the analysis. Hypotheses were tested regarding an association between lower maternal responsiveness and higher child behavioural difficulties as well as regarding associations with further behavioural subscales of the Rutter scale, including a prosocial behaviour subscale. Results were analysed using a linear regression model with adjustments for groups of confounding variables. There was no evidence to support a relationship between lower maternal responsiveness and higher behavioural difficulties at 42 months although there was suggestion of a trend in the expected direction. Similar results were found for the subscales of the Rutter scale. The conclusion is that maternal sensitivity measured in this way does not have a strong relationship with child behaviour. One interpretation of these results is that there is a need to distinguish between maternal sensitivity to non-distress and to distress and ensure that the appropriate aspect of maternal sensitivity in relation to child behavioural outcomes is assessed. Limitations of the study are discussed and the effects of potential improvements are considered.

Introduction. A mother’s verbal and non-verbal behaviour towards her infant is known as maternal responsiveness (MR). Positive MR is associated with better child social and emotional development (SED). A mother’s ability to accurately recognise emotions is thought to enhance MR. Method. Data from 1,122 mother-infant interactions from a longitudinal birth cohort study, was used firstly to examine whether positive MR at 12 months was associated with better child and adolescent SED, and secondly to explore whether better maternal facial and vocal expression recognition at 151 months was associated with positive MR and child SED. MR was measured using the Thorpe Interaction Measure (TIM) from observed mother-infant interactions and SED from questionnaire data adjusting for potential confounding variables. A test of facial expression recognition was used with vocal expression recognition additionally used in mothers. Results. Logistic regression revealed that positive MR was associated with positive SED outcomes in childhood but there was little effect in adolescence. Positive MR was associated with mothers having better facial and vocal expression recognition at 151 months and these recognition skills were associated with children showing less emotional problems at 158 months independent of MR. Adjustments for confounding variables had no effect on these results. Conclusion: These findings support the benefit of positive MR on a child’s SED in middle childhood. Further, the findings suggest that a mother’s facial and vocal expression recognition skills are important to both MR and a child’s SED. Limitations include subjective reporting of SED.

The experience of becoming a mother is a personal and social experience influenced by individual characteristics, friends and family, and the infant. The journey to become a mother encompasses concepts of maternal competence and responsiveness. The purpose of this study was to examine maternal competence and responsiveness to the infant in mothers of late preterm infants compared to mothers of full term infants. The conceptual model for this work was based on the work of Reva Rubin describing maternal identity and role development. Maternal competence and responsiveness are components of maternal role and are influenced by social support, maternal self-esteem, well-being, stress and mood. In addition, infant temperament and perception of infant vulnerability influence development of maternal competence and responsiveness. A non-experimental repeated measures design was used to compare maternal competence and responsiveness in two groups of postpartum mothers. One group consisted of mothers of late preterm infants 34-36, 6/7 weeks gestation. The second group consisted of mothers of term infants, >/=37 weeks gestation. Both primiparas and multiparas were included in the study. Data was collected in the initial postpartum period prior to discharge from the hospital and again at six-weeks postpartum. No statistically significant differences in development of maternal competence or responsiveness between mothers of LPIs and term infants were identified. This study adds to our knowledge concerning outcomes of mothers of late preterm infants and development of competence and responsiveness.

Savoring, or the process of prolonging a specific experience of positive emotions, is associated with positive health outcomes and feelings of interpersonal connectedness. Few studies have examined the process of savoring in a family context, and even fewer studies have explored the extent to which it may vary across cultures. In a sample of mother-child dyads (n = 66; White = 33 and Latinx, non-White = 30), we investigated the effect of savoring on verbal and behavioral indicators of maternal responsiveness as compared to a control condition, a reflecting exercise about daily routines. The results suggest an interaction effect of experimental condition and race on verbal maternal responsiveness, such that White moms who savored were more responsive than those who had reflected. Unexpectedly, Latina moms who reflected were more responsive than those who had savored. This effect may be explained by Latinx cultural values of collectivism and familism interacting with participants’ interpretation of the experimental tasks. These findings suggest the use of savoring and positive emotion to improve parent-child relationships and highlight the importance of studying the role of culture in psychological interventions.

Submitted by TAHENA SILVA FERREIRA null (tahena_sf@hotmail.com) on 2017-08-10T15:09:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao com correcoes apos defesa_24-07-17.pdf: 1293788 bytes, checksum: 68a919fab3a3a8499bbc31493ce8fc05 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-08-15T19:42:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ferreira_ts_me_bauru.pdf: 1293788 bytes, checksum: 68a919fab3a3a8499bbc31493ce8fc05 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-15T19:42:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ferreira_ts_me_bauru.pdf: 1293788 bytes, checksum: 68a919fab3a3a8499bbc31493ce8fc05 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-13 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A literatura aponta que uma interação satisfatória entre mãe e filho pode ser considerada um preditor do bom desenvolvimento infantil, pois, pode atenuar os efeitos dos fatores de risco. A chegada de um bebê que apresente algum tipo de deficiência, pode se configurar em um momento de tensão para essa mãe, pois requer adaptações e apresenta desafios ainda mais intensos. Dentre as inúmeras condições que podem afetar a infância, a Síndrome de Down (SD) destaca-se por provocar alterações globais no desenvolvimento e ter uma alta incidência na população mundial e nacional. O presente trabalho objetivou descrever, comparar e correlacionar os comportamentos interativos e não-interativos infantis e maternos, considerando os grupos de mães e bebê com e sem SD, com base em grandes categorias e subcategorias comportamentais. Participaram do estudo, 50 díades mãe-bebê com idade entre quatro e seis meses, divididas em dois grupos: 25 mães e seus bebês com SD e 25 mães e seus bebês sem SD. Foi utilizado um Instrumento para Coleta de Informações Sociodemográficas (ICIS) elaborado para este estudo e para análise da interação mãe-bebê foi utilizado o Sistema de Codificação da Interação Mãe-Criança Revisado (CITMI-R), versão brasileira, adaptado de Alvarenga e Cerezzo (2013). O instrumento prevê categorias gerais, referentes aos comportamentos infantis (interativos: Aproximação Social Positiva, Negativa e Neutra e, nãointerativos: Jogo, Regulação, Choro ou Protesto, Apatia e Movimentos de Protesto) e, referentes ao comportamento materno (interativos: Sensível Positivo, Negativo e Neutro e, nãointerativos: Protetivo e não responsivo). Os resultados apontaram que embora o grupo de mães de bebês sem SD tenha apresentado maior variabilidade comportamental, os grupos não apresentaram diferenças qualitativas significativas nos comportamentos analisados. Em relação aos comportamentos infantis, ainda que tenham sido observadas diferenças, elas não foram estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos. Considerando os comportamentos maternos, as diferenças estatísticas demostraram que as mães do G1 são mais Sensíveis Positivas (utilizaram mais sorrisos, vocalizações com conteúdo positivo e brinquedos), enquanto as mães do G2 são mais Sensíveis Neutras e Negativas (utilizaram mais vocalizações com conteúdo neutro, interromperam mais o fluxo de atividade de seus filhos com toques bruscos e olharam mais para outros locais da sala). Verificou-se ainda que o comportamento positivo emitido por um dos integrantes da díade criou condições favoráveis para que o outro integrante apresentasse comportamentos dessa mesma ordem. Concluiu-se que a similaridade dos comportamentos infantis apresentados pelos grupos possa ter ocorrido em função da adaptação materna frente as dificuldades dos bebês com SD, visto que, na presente amostra, todas as mães contavam com uma rede de apoio ofertada pelas instituições nas quais seus filhos eram assistidos. Diante disso, as limitações do presente estudo estiveram se referem a faixa etária específica dos bebês que compuseram a amostra (quatro a seis meses) e a atenção especializada dirigida às mães de bebês com SD. Por fim, é reconhecida a necessidade de novos estudos, especialmente longitudinais, com a ampliação da amostra e que considerem variáveis como: contato visual, sorriso, saúde mental materna e rede de apoio. / The literature indicates that a satisfactory interaction between mother and child can be considered a predictor of child development and may attenuate the risk factors. The arrival of a baby that presents some type of disability, can be configured in a moment of tension for this mother, because it requires adaptations and presents even more intense challenges. Among the many conditions that can affect childhood, Down Syndrome (DS) stands out because it causes global changes in development and presents a high incidence in the world and national population. The present work aimed to describe, compare and correlate the interactive and noninteractive infant and maternal behaviors, considering the groups of mothers and babies with and without SD, based on behavioral categories and subcategories. Participated in the study, 50 mothers and their infants between four and six months of age, divided into two groups: 25 mothers and their babies with SD and 25 mothers and their babies without SD. An Instrument for Collecting Sociodemographic Information (ICIS), prepared for this study was used and for the analysis of the interaction, Early Mother-Child Interaction Coding System (CITMI-R), Brazilian version, adapted from Alvarenga and Cerezzo (2013). The instrument provides for general categories related to children's behaviors (interactive: Positive Social Approach, Negative and Neutral and noninteractive: Game, Regulation, Cry or Protest, Apathy and Protest Movements) and, referring to maternal behavior (interactive: Sensitive Positive, Negative and Neutral and non-interactive: Protective and non-responsive). The results showed that although the group of mothers of infants without SD had higher behavioral variability, the groups did not show marked qualitative differences in the behaviors analyzed. Regarding children's behaviors, although differences were observed, they were not statistically significant between the groups. Concerning maternal behaviors, statistical differences showed that G1 mothers are more Sensitive Positives (they used more smiles, positive containing vocalizations and toys), while G2 mothers are more Neutral and Negative Sensitive (they used more neutral vocalizations, they interrupted more the activity flow of their children with abrupt touches and looked more to other places in the room). It was also verified that positive behaviors emitted by one of the members of the dyad created favorable conditions for the other member to present behaviors of the same order. It was concluded that the similarity of the children's behaviors presented by the groups may have occurred due to the maternal adaptation to the difficulties of the infants with DS, since in the present sample all mothers had a support network offered by the institutions in which their children were assisted. Therefore, the limitations of the present study were related to the specific age range of the babies composing the sample (four to six months) and the specialized attention directed to the mothers of infants with DS. Finally, the need for further studies, especially longitudinal ones, with the widening of the sample and considering variables such as: eye contact, smile, maternal mental health and support network is recognized. / FAPESP: 2015/11205-8

No description available.

This longitudinal study examined the role maternal responsiveness had on shaping Spanish and English language development in bilingual two year-old children. Because children who are bilingual language learners are oftentimes coming from low socioeconomic families it is essential that we investigate the ways in which they develop language in order to better serve this population. Maternal responsiveness is one source in which we can examine early language development of young bilingual children. Eight Latino mother-child dyads were observed and assessed at three time points. Each observation was coded for maternal responsive behaviors. Regression and multilevel modeling was used in order to assess which maternal responsive behaviors impacted Spanish and English language outcomes. Results indicated joint topic focus as being overwhelmingly impactful across Times 2 and Times 3 in both languages. Additionally, prohibition was found to be negatively influencing English language outcomes at Times 2 and Times 3. Interestingly, focus shift was found to have a positive impact on English language outcomes at Time 2. Given the findings, this work sheds light on the similarities and differences between cultures and the need for further research surrounding this population.

Infants need to develop effective, secure attachment to their primary caregivers in the first year of life. Researchers have not been able to identify all the factors that may influence the development of infant attachment. Most of the studies in this area have been done without regard to infant feeding as a potential factor. Maternal responsiveness appears to be key in the child's development of secure attachment behaviors, yet even after decades of research on infant attachment and maternal responsiveness, there is little evidence available to assist with early identification of families at risk and few interventions known to be effective in promoting maternal responsiveness.The research questions for this study were: 1) Do mothers who exclusively breastfed their infants for at least 6 weeks report more maternal responsiveness behaviors 2-4 months after delivery compared to mothers who exclusively formula feed their infants? 2) How well does breastfeeding duration predict self-reported maternal responsiveness at 2-4 months once socio-demographics and maternal characteristics (i.e., self-esteem, satisfaction with life) are statistically controlled?A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the variables of maternal responsiveness, feeding patterns, and maternal characteristics in a convenience sample of 200 mothers in the first 2-4 months after delivery. The 60-item instrument included scales to measure maternal responsiveness (MIRI: Amankwaa et al., 2002), self-esteem (RSE: Rosenberg, 1965), and satisfaction with life (SWLS: Diener et al., 1985) as well as infant feeding and socio-demographic questions. A mixed mode data collection strategy was used combining Internet data collection with traditional paper-and-pencil survey methods.Somewhat surprisingly, mothers who exclusively breastfed for at least 6 weeks did not report any more maternal responsiveness behaviors compared to mothers who formula fed their infants. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that satisfaction with life, self-esteem, and parity, but not breastfeeding, explained a significant portion of the variance in self-reported maternal responsiveness scores. Further research in this area is needed. It should be noted that this is one of few studies of maternal responsiveness using a self-report instrument and may also be the first study of maternal responsiveness using Internet data collection.