Temperamental sensitivity moderates the effects of maternal love-withdrawal on perception of infant crying

Abstract

Parenting has an impact on the offspring's social and behavioral outcomes. However, not all individuals are affected equally; according to the differential susceptibility hypothesis, temperamental traits may moderate the effects of early life experiences. We examined the association between young adults’ experiences of maternal love-withdrawal and their perception of infant crying, and the potentially moderating role of temperamental orienting sensitivity. In an ecologically valid but standardized setting, 132 female participants spent two consecutive evenings taking care of an infant simulator. Orienting sensitivity moderated the relation between experienced love-withdrawal and the perception of infant crying: Participants with high orienting sensitivity who experienced low levels of love-withdrawal perceived the crying bouts as less negative than others. We conclude that the long-term impact of early life experiences may be moderated by temperamental characteristics, with implications for individual differences in perceptual responses to infant stimuli in adulthood.