| Description |
This study examines the association between maternal sensitivity and physiological reactivity in infants across time. Maternal sensitivity describes the appropriate response of a caregiver to an infant's needs. Physiological reactivity refers to how reactive the autonomic nervous system is to a specific event or challenge. For the purpose of this study, physiological reactivity was measured using heart rate (HR) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), which is a measure of parasympathetic nervous system. Previous research has demonstrated a concurrent association between high sensitive caregiving and low infant physiological reactivity when they are measured at the same time-point. This association across time has yet to be explored. It was expected that greater maternal sensitivity would be associated with lower infant physiological reactivity (i.e., lower RSA reactivity and lower HR reactivity) at a later time. Forty-six mothers and their infants participanted in a research visit when the infant was seven months old and again when the infant was 18 months old. Data coded for maternal sensitivity were collected at seven months during the Still Face Paradigm (SFP). Infant RSA reactivity and HR reactivity were collected at 18 months during the Strange Situation Procedure. As hypothesized, there was a significant association between high maternal sensitivity during the play episode of the SFP at seven months and low infant RSA reactivity at 18 months. This was also supported by a significant association between high maternal sensitivity during the play episode and low infant heart rate reactivity at 18 months. Significant associations were specific to sensitivity during the play episodes of the SFP, as associations with sensitivity during recovery episodes were not significant for infant RSA reactivity or infant heart rate reactivity. These results demonstrate the existence of a longitudinal association between maternal sensitivity and infant physiological reactivity. These findings are an important first step toward helping children in less than ideal situations. For example, these results could lead to a greater knowledge of how to develop interventions with children or adolescents struggling with issues related to heightened physiological activity, because understanding these biological patterns could help them handle high levels of physiological reactivity in a productive way. Additionally, this knowledge could assist parents in providing sensitive care in an effort to prevent their children from developing hyper-reactive physiological patterns. |
