Nonnutritive Sucking (NNS) has long been used to soothe crying infants. Systematic observations of this effect in newborn infants have revealed that NNS reduces arousal in general. Among preterm infants NNS has been used as an effective intervention in the newborn intensive care unit. However, there has been little systematic research on the immediate behavioral effects of NNS in this population of infants. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of NNS on behavioral state in preterm infants. The results indicated that the amount of quiet sleep was increased following NNS, but that this increase was not greater than the amount of quiet sleep observed in two hours of undisturbed rest. These results are discussed in terms of intervention strategies which are designed to increase the amount of quiet sleep among preterm infants. It is suggested that a pacifier can increase the amount of quiet sleep when longer periods of uninterrupted sleep cannot be arranged. Additional results indicated that the rhythmic organization of state was more complex following NNS than during control conditions. A basic 40- to 60-minute rhythm in state was not affected by NNS. However, spectral analysis indicated that there were other faster frequency fluctuations in state. Following NNS there were more of these fluctuations and they accounted for more variance in state. This pattern is more similar to the pattern observed in low-risk newborns. These results are discussed in terms of inducing behavior patterns in preterm infants which are more similar to behavior seen in full term infants. Finally, a model is presented which suggests that the reduced arousal seen following NNS is an adjunct to an increase in parasympathetic activity. This increase in parasympathetic activity is hypothesized to be adaptive. Through this mechanism sucking is hypothesized to have a distinct behavioral effect on energy regulation in newborn infants outside of the requirements for feeding. / Ph. D.

Thesis (DPhil (Psychology))—University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Very little is known about the experiences of black children living in poverty in South Africa. This compromises the delivery of appropriate psychological services. This dissertation considers the contribution that psychoanalytic infant observation might make to a needs assessment process within the community psychology paradigm. To date, infant observation has predominantly been used for training psychotherapists and other professionals in Western contexts. The goal of the present project was to conduct a "classical" observation of a mother and child in a lowincome South African community in the first year of the infant's life, in order to ascertain what kind of description it would yield. The question was whether such a description is useful for the needs assessment process, and ultimately, whether infant observation is a viable tool for psychologists working in low-income communities in South Africa. The study was set in a poor, semi-rural, so-called coloured township in the Western Cape. The data were analysed using an intersubjective psychoanalytic lens and a social constructionist grounded theory approach. In overview, the findings relate to two main areas, namely a) the nature and content of the resultant description, and b) the effect of the process. The analysis of the case material showed that the observation produced an extremely detailed account of the experience of poverty and oppression, involving the way in which it influences all relationships, including the one between mother and child. The knowledge gained offers clear pointers to the kind of intervention that would benefit the particular infant in the present study, and potentially other infants in vulnerable social contexts as well. One surprising outcome was the extensive way in which the observation functioned therapeutically for the whole family. It is therefore concluded that infant observation can provide a very rich contribution to low-income communities on a number of levels, if it is able to make both the theoretical and practical adjustments needed. It is thus argued that it is necessary to look at infant observation in more critical ways, both in terms of how it has traditionally been conceptualised and how it is and can be applied across all contexts.

Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) offer the potential for new modes of social interaction for children with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Familiar objects that are embedded with digital technology may help children with autism understand the actions of others by providing feedback that is logical and predictable. Objects that move, playback sound or create sound – thus repeating programmed effects – offer an exciting way for children to investigate objects and their effects. This thesis presents three studies of children with autism interacting with objects augmented with digital technology. Study one looked at Topobo, a construction toy augmented with kinetic memory. Children played with Topobo in groups of three of either Typically Developing (TD) or ASC children. The children were given a construction task, and were also allowed to play with the construction sets with no task. Topobo in the task condition showed an overall significant effect for more onlooker, cooperative, parallel, and less solitary behaviour. For ASC children significantly less solitary and more parallel behaviour was recorded than other play states. In study two, an Augmented Knights Castle (AKC) playset was presented to children with ASC. The task condition was extended to allow children to configure the playset with sound. A significant effect in a small sample was found for configuration of the AKC, leading to less solitary behaviour, and more cooperative behaviour. Compared to non-digital play, the AKC showed reduction of solitary behaviour because of augmentation. Qualitative analysis showed further differences in learning phase, user content, behaviour oriented to other children, and system responsiveness. Tangible musical blocks (‘d-touch') in study three focused on the task. TD and ASC children were presented with a guided/non-guided task in pairs, to isolate effects of augmentation. Significant effects were found for an increase in cooperative symbolic play in the guided condition, and more solitary functional play was found in the unguided condition. Qualitative analysis highlighted differences in understanding blocks and block representation, exploratory and expressive play, understanding of shared space and understanding of the system. These studies suggest that the structure of the task conducted with TUIs may be an important factor for children's use. When the task is undefined, play tends to lose structure and the benefits of TUIs decline. Tangible technology needs to be used in an appropriately structured manner with close coupling (the distance between digital housing and digital effect), and works best when objects are presented in familiar form.

The overarching goal of this thesis was to examine sibling relationship quality in young twin children, as well as the ways in which this key bond is associated with other familial relationships within the home environment. The three articles included were part of a longitudinal and multi-method study, run by myself and my colleague - the Twins, Family and Behaviour study. Accounts were collected from 282 mothers and 132 fathers of twins, over a two-year time period. Parents completed postal questionnaires and a telephone interview, and observations via Skype recorded them interacting with each of their children. The research was unique, as it employed a number of novel measures and sophisticated analyses that have not yet been used within a longitudinal twin sample such as this. Results showed that, contrary to expectations, no mean level differences emerged when monozygotic twin pairs, dizygotic twin pairs, and non-twin pairs were compared on their sibling relationship quality (Paper 1). Behavioural genetic modelling also revealed that sibling interactions were mainly influenced by the shared environment, common to both children within the dyad, but also by the genetic propensities of the siblings themselves (Paper 1). Using the innovative Preschool Five Minute Speech Sample interview, we found that mothers who expressed more family-wide positive, and less family-wide negative, emotion towards their children reported more positivity within the sibling relationship – even when controlling for questionnaire measures of the mother-child relationship (Paper 2). Finally, opposing the majority of past literature, cross-lagged tests evidenced that earlier positivity within the sibling bond was predictive of later marital satisfaction, and of positivity within both the mother-child and the father-child bond (Paper 3). The implications of the findings include: the generalisability of studies of twins in childhood to the wider non-twin sibling population (Paper 1); the usefulness of maternal speech sample measures in capturing unique variance in sibling relationship quality (Paper 2); and the impact of affectionate sibling exchanges on entire family systems (Paper 3). Future research would benefit from exploring the nature of the relationship between twin brothers and sisters further, using both younger and older children's reports of their family interactions, within a more ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample.

This thesis examines language alignment in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by impaired social understanding and poor communication skills. Alignment, the tendency for speakers to repeat one another's linguistic choices in conversation, promotes better communication and more satisfying interactions (cf. e.g., Fusaroli et al., 2012). By corollary, deficits in alignment may adversely affect both communicative and affective aspects of conversation. Across three studies, I consider whether ASD children's conversational deficits relate to disrupted patterns of alignment, and explore the mechanisms underlying this. In the first study, I adopt a corpus-based approach to show that syntactic alignment effects are observable in ASD children's ‘real-life' conversations, not just in an experimental context. The second study draws on research into the role of inhibitory control in communicative perspective-taking (Nilsen & Graham, 2009) to show that lexical alignment is not socially mediated in ASD. I develop this work in the third study, which highlights how, for ASD children, conversation can be compromised when lexical alignment is driven exclusively by priming mechanisms. Taken together, these studies advance our understanding of conversational deficits in ASD, and particularly how impaired social understanding affects ASD children's language processing in dialogue. I conclude that, while ASD children have intact alignment, reduced social understanding may prevent them from ‘diverging', which can be necessary to move a conversation forward (Healey, Purver, & Howes, 2014). More broadly, the thesis addresses questions of theoretical relevance to the study of alignment, by clarifying the contributions of unmediated (i.e., priming) and socially mediated (i.e., audience design) mechanisms to children's alignment behaviour, both in ASD and typical development.

Factors influencing adjustments in the transition to parenthood are identified and strategies for support in Britain and the USA are reviewed through participant-observation of 20 USA programmes (N=94 parents). A longitudinal British study, using a wide range of self report measures and in-depth interviews at three time points (1) examined key features of the transition to parenthood for a low risk sample of women (N=106) and men (N=106), and compared adjustments of 52 couples who participated in a new support programme with 54 couples who did not. The programme combined a group-based and home visit model which either began in pregnancy and continued postnatally, or began postnatally. The programme focused on the psychological dimensions of the transition to parenthood, with the intersubjectivity of the couple and parent-infant relationship at the core of the integrative model. Evidence is provided that the transition to parenthood is more complex than previous studies assume. A substantial number of the "low risk" women and men appeared to experience psychological distress and the main concern of women and men were different from the agenda of hospital based antenatal classes. A number of gender differences were found but partners were the main source of support for women and men. Women and men in the support group were comfortable to disclose explicit details about their experiences. At 6 months postnatally, their adjustments were more positive than women and men on the control for aspects of (a) confidence as a parent; (b) satisfaction with the couple relationship ; (c) satisfaction with the parent-infant relationship; (d) coping strategies, and (e) separation anxiety. Implications for theory, research and practice are discussed.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pregnant women living in South African peri-urban settlements face many challenges for their health and the health of their infants. Current health care services face many constraints and are not able to meet all the needs of pregnant mothers. Home-visiting programmes implemented by community health workers can alleviate these constraints. The current RCT assessed the effectiveness of the Philani Plus Intervention Program that addressed HIV, alcohol, maternal and child nutrition and mental health. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed by measuring infant social withdrawal behaviour using the modified Alarm Distress Baby Scale (m- ADBB). A total of 681 cases were randomised into control (N=330) and intervention groups (N=351) and assessed using the m-ADBB. A cut-off score of two and above was used to determined significant social withdrawal behaviour. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation initially, followed by analysis of variance and multilevel modelling. Results indicated a prevalence of 46.7% of social withdrawal behaviour; however, no significant differences between groups were found. The current prevalence was substantially higher in comparison to the only other published study using the m-ADBB. Furthermore, the prevalence rate was also significantly higher compared to the majority of other studies using the original Alarm distress Baby Scale (ADBB). The high prevalence of social withdrawal behaviour found in this study indicates an increased risk for suboptimal infant development. Further research regarding social withdrawal behaviour and the casual mechanisms associated with the development of such behaviour is needed. Furthermore, validation of the m-ADBB in different settings is needed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Swanger vroue wat in Suid-Afrikaanse buitestedelike nedersettings woon staar baie uitdagings in die gesig met betrekking tot hul gesondheid en die gesondheid van hul babas. Huidige gesondheidsdienste is baie beperk en is nie in staat om in al die behoeftes van swanger moeders te voorsien nie. Huis-besoek programme wat deur gemeenskaplike gesondheidswerkers geïmplementeer word, kan hierdie beperkings verlig. Die huidige RCT het die effektiwiteit van die Philani Plus Intervensie Program wat MIV, alkohol, voeding en geestelike gesondheid aanspreek, geassesseer. Die effektiwiteit van die intervensie is geassesseer deur sosiale onttrekkingsgedrag met behulp van die gewysigde Alarm Nood Baba Skaal (m-ADBB) te meet. ‘n Totaal van 681 gevalle is lukraak in kontrole (N = 330) en intervensie groepe (N = 351) verdeel en geëvalueer volgens die m-ADBB. 'n Afsnypunt van twee en hoër is gebruik om beduidende sosiale onttrekkingsgedrag te bepaal. Data is aanvanklik ontleed met behulp van beskrywende statistiek en kruis-tabulering, gevolg deur analise van variansie en multi-modelle. Resultate toon 'n 46,7%-voorkoms van sosiale onttrekkingsgedrag, maar het egter geen beduidende verskille tussen groepe getoon nie. Die huidige voorkoms was aansienlik hoër in vergelyking met die enigste ander gepubliseerde studie wat gebruik gemaak het van die m- ADBB. Verder was die voorkomssyfer ook aansienlik hoër in vergelyking met die meerderheid van die ander studies wat gebruik gemaak het van die oorspronklike Alarm Nood Baba Skaal (ADBB). Die hoë voorkoms van sosiale onttrekkingsgedrag dui op 'n verhoogde risiko vir suboptimale baba ontwikkeling. Verdere navorsing oor sosiale onttrekkingsgedrag en die meganismes wat verband hou met die ontwikkeling van sulke gedrag, is nodig. Verder word die bekragtiging van die m-ADBB in verskillende instellings benodig.

The transition to parenthood involves psychological and social adjustments for men and women, with evidence of possible declines in mental health and close relationships. This thesis examined the relationship between parents' mental health (depression, anxiety, PTSD), the parent-infant relationship, couple's relationship and infant development. The five articles in this thesis were part of a prospective multi-method investigation of first-time parents. Parents completed questionnaires in late pregnancy, 3 months and 15 months postpartum (Article 3 & 4), detailed observations of parent-infant interactions 3 months postpartum (CARE-index; Article 4), in-depth interviews (Birmingham Interview of Maternal Mental Health) 5 months postpartum (Article 1 and 2), and infant development (Bayley Scales III) was examined at 17 months postpartum (Article 5). Results showed that a proportion of men and women suffered from poor mental health. Mental health problems were more common in pregnancy than postpartum. Women experienced worse mental health than men, but few other gender or within couple differences were found (Articles 2 & 3). A relatively high rate of poor parent-infant interactions was found (Article 4) and many parents reported feelings of anger towards their infant (Articles 1 & 2). Parents' perceptions of their infant's characteristics were important for the parent-infant relationship (Article 3) and infant's cognitive, language and motor development (Article 5). Additionally, women's postpartum PTSD and prenatal depression were associated with poor infant development (Article 5). Men's mental health was associated with poor interaction with their infants (Article 4), negative perceptions of the father-infant and couple's relationship (Article 3). These findings suggest that both men and women should be included in early mental health and family relationship interventions. However, the small low-risk sample limits generalizability of results. Future research would benefit from exploring the links between parental, infant and family relationship variables further, over time in larger more representative samples.

This thesis examined the influence of parents' gendered attitudes and behaviours on three different aspects of development in middle childhood and early adolescence through three papers. The first paper explored the longitudinal influence of parents' gender-role attitudes and division of household responsibilities on children's gender development. Results showed that parents' gender-role attitudes and division of household responsibilities were predictive of children's gendered personality traits, gender-role attitudes and feminine preferences for activities, but not their masculine preferences for activities. The second paper investigated the influence of parents' gender-role attitudes and division of household responsibilities on children's ability self-concepts. Parents' gendered attitudes and behaviours were not predictive of children's ability self-concepts. However, children's own gendered attitudes and behaviours were associated with these self-concepts. Children's higher feminine preferences predicted lower maths and sports self-concepts and higher English self-concepts. In addition, higher masculine preferences and personality traits predicted higher sports self-concepts. Finally, the third paper explored the influences of parents' gender-role attitudes and division of household responsibilities on sibling relationship quality, and marriage and parenting as mediators of this association, which is unique to the literature. Families with more egalitarian division of household responsibilities had more positive and less negative sibling relationships than traditional families. Using structural equation modelling, parenting, but not marriage was found to act as a mediator. Papers 1 and 2 used a longitudinal sample of 106 families with two siblings and their parents from the South East of England. Paper 3 used just the first wave of data from this study which included 124 families. This research highlights the importance of taking a family systems approach to examining child development, and emphasises the need to explore the father-child and sibling relationships in addition to the prevalent focus on mother-child relationships. In addition, multiple dimensions of gender were explored for parents and children rather than just examining sex differences. This added extra depth to the analysis and aided in understanding the complexity of these associations. The diverse nature of influences of parents' gendered attitudes and behaviours on these three areas allows comparisons to be made that contribute to the literature on parental influences and our understanding of child development in middle childhood and early adolescence.

The present study provides information about the relationships between parental reactions to their children‘s expression of negative emotions at 8 months, parent-infant attachment at 12 and 15 months and parental reactions to children‘s negative emotional expressions at 24 months, and as well as the extent to which all of these variables predict children‘s emotional expressivity as toddlers at 24 months, after controlling for infant emotional reactivity. Analyses showed that parental responses to infant negative emotions, insecure attachment and parental responses to toddlers‘ negative emotions as well as infant emotional reactivity all made independent contributions to predicting toddler negative (vs. positive) affect. Only insecure infant-parent attachment, not parental socialization or infant emotional reactivity, predicted toddler flat (vs. expressive) affect. The inclusion of fathers in this study is important not only to clarify how mothers and fathers differ in socializing their children‘s negative emotions, but also to have a more complete study of how emotional expressivity develops. Analyses conducted separately by parent gender revealed differences in the relationship between parental socialization, attachment and emotional expressivity across mothers and fathers, indicating that researchers should continue to include fathers in studies of socialization of emotional expressivity. / text