{"title":"Is lower fetal heart rate variability a susceptibility marker to the impact of negative coparenting on infant regulatory capacity?","authors":"Tiago Miguel Pinto, Bárbara Figueiredo","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22099","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22099","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lower fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) may be a prenatal endophenotypic susceptibility marker and increase the impact of both positive and negative coparenting on infant regulatory capacity. This study analyzed the moderator role of FHRV in the association between positive and negative coparenting and infant regulatory capacity at 3 months. The sample comprised 86 first-born infants and their mothers and fathers recruited at a public Health Service in Northern Portugal. FHRV was recorded during routine cardiotocography examination at the third trimester of gestation. Mothers and fathers reported on coparenting and infant regulatory capacity at 2 weeks and 3 months postpartum. FHRV moderated the association between mother's and father's negative coparenting at 2 weeks postpartum and infant regulatory capacity at three months. Infants with low FHRV presented higher regulatory capacity when mothers or fathers reported less negative coparenting, while lower regulatory capacity when mothers or fathers reported more negative coparenting, than infants with high FHRV. Findings suggested lower FHRV as a prenatal endophenotypic susceptibility marker that increases the impact of negative coparenting on infant regulatory capacity.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139404742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natalie Kiel, Gizem Samdan, Annika S. Wienke, Tilman Reinelt, Sabina Pauen, Birgit Mathes, Charlotte Herzmann
{"title":"From co-regulation to self-regulation: Maternal soothing strategies and self-efficacy in relation to maternal reports of infant regulation at 3 and 7 months","authors":"Natalie Kiel, Gizem Samdan, Annika S. Wienke, Tilman Reinelt, Sabina Pauen, Birgit Mathes, Charlotte Herzmann","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22098","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22098","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study, conducted in Germany, examines the role of maternal soothing strategies to explain the association of maternal self-efficacy with infant regulation (crying and sleeping behavior). Questionnaire data of 150 mothers, living in Germany, with mixed ethnic and educational backgrounds were collected when infants were 3 and 7 months old. Two types of maternal soothing strategies were distinguished: <i>close soothing</i>, involving close physical and emotional contact, and <i>distant soothing</i>, involving physical and emotional distancing from the infant. A cross-sectional <i>SEM</i> at 3 months indicated that maternal self-efficacy is associated with reported infant regulation through distant soothing strategies. Low maternal self-efficacy was associated with frequent maternal use of distant soothing, which in turn was related to reported infant regulation problems, that is, non-soothability and greater crying frequency. Frequent use of close soothing was associated with reported infant sleeping behavior, that is, frequent night-time awakenings. A longitudinal <i>SEM</i> further indicated that the effects of close soothing persisted at least until the infants' age of 7 months. The study showed how low maternal self-efficacy, increased use of distant soothing, and reported early infant regulation problems are intertwined and that, due to their persisting positive effect on infant soothability, close soothing better supports infant development.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/imhj.22098","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139089014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dana McCarty, Rachel Silver, Lauren Quinn, Stacey Dusing, Thomas Michael O'Shea
{"title":"Infant massage as a stress management technique for parents of hospitalized extremely preterm infants","authors":"Dana McCarty, Rachel Silver, Lauren Quinn, Stacey Dusing, Thomas Michael O'Shea","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22095","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22095","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mothers of infants born extremely preterm requiring prolonged medical intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at high risk of developing stress. Parent-administered infant massage is a well-established, safe intervention for preterm infants with many developmental benefits, but the published literature has mostly examined its impact on infants and parents through self-reported or observational measures of stress. The aim of this study was to measure salivary cortisol, a biomarker for stress, in extremely preterm infants and their mothers immediately pre and post parent-administered infant massage in order to detect potential changes in physiologic stress. Twenty-two mother-infant dyads completed massage education with a physical or occupational therapist. All dyads provided salivary cortisol samples via buccal swab immediately pre- and post-massage at the second session. Of mothers determined to be “cortisol responders” (15/22), salivary cortisol levels were lower after massage (pre-minus post-level: −26.47 ng/dL, [CI = −4.40, −48.53], <i>p</i> = .016, paired t-test). Our primary findings include a clinically significant decrease (as measured by percent change) in maternal cortisol levels immediately post parent-administered massage, indicating decreased physiological stress. Integration of infant massage into NICU clinical practice may support maternal mental health, but further powered studies are necessary to confirm findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138886261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sandra Antunes, Maria João Alves, Inês Martelo, Marjorie Beeghly, Luísa Barros, Marina Fuertes
{"title":"Predicting attachment in Portuguese infants born very or extremely preterm: Understanding the roles of infant regulatory behavior, maternal sensitivity, and risk factors","authors":"Sandra Antunes, Maria João Alves, Inês Martelo, Marjorie Beeghly, Luísa Barros, Marina Fuertes","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22094","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22094","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A growing body of research shows that early attachment relationships are foundational for children's later developmental and psychosocial outcomes. However, findings are mixed regarding whether preterm birth predicts later attachment, but insecurity is generally more prevalent among infants at higher medical and/or social/familial risk. This longitudinal study aimed to identify specific relational, familial/demographic, and perinatal predictors of attachment in a sample of 63 Portuguese infants born very or extremely preterm (VEPT, <32 gestational weeks) and their mothers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. One-third of the mothers had social/family risk factors (e.g., single parent, immigrant, unemployed, low education, and/or low income). At 3 months (corrected age), dyads were observed during social interaction in the Face-to-Face Still-Face paradigm (FFSF) and during free play. At 12 months, mother-infant dyads were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation. Over half (58.7%) of the infants were classified as insecurely attached. Social-Positive Oriented regulatory behavior pattern, higher maternal sensitivity, higher infant cooperation during free play, number of siblings and an absence of social/family risk factors were associated with attachment security. Perinatal variables were unrelated to attachment. Findings indicate that both relational and social contextual factors contribute to attachment in this biologically vulnerable sample.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138632767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katelyn Branson Dame, Madeline Jazz Harvey, Stephen Aichele, Ann Kralewski Van Denburg, Lillian Hoyer, Steffany Joslin, Alexandria McKenna, Michael Lincoln, Lia Closson, Marjo Flykt, Saara Salo, Ashley Harvey, Zeynep Biringen
{"title":"Movement through motherhood: Exploring mood, wellbeing, and prenatal emotional availability (EA) through EA-based dance intervention","authors":"Katelyn Branson Dame, Madeline Jazz Harvey, Stephen Aichele, Ann Kralewski Van Denburg, Lillian Hoyer, Steffany Joslin, Alexandria McKenna, Michael Lincoln, Lia Closson, Marjo Flykt, Saara Salo, Ashley Harvey, Zeynep Biringen","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22093","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22093","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Emotional availability (EA) is a construct that describes the observed emotional connection in parent-child relationships. During pregnancy, EA is assessed only using caregiver sensitivity and nonhostility. We used the nonverbal aspects of these qualities to create a new dance/movement intervention (“EA-Based Dance Intervention”). Given the scarcity of pregnancy interventions, we provided training to participants on how to be emotionally engaged with their unborn babies through dance/movement. The EA-Based Dance Intervention alone comprised the first intervention arm (<i>n</i> = 12). A second intervention arm involved the combination of EA-Based Dance Intervention with brief psychoeducation (<i>n</i> = 10). The third arm was a control group, which received only the assessments (<i>n</i> = 7). Measures of self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotional expressivity, flourishing, and the (newly developed) self-reported prenatal EA were used at pre- and posttest. The measure of observed prenatal EA was used to compare intervention versus control at posttest only. In this pilot study, we found that participants receiving the EA-Based Dance Intervention alone or combined with psychoeducation, self-reported improved anxiety symptoms and self-reported higher prenatal EA. When compared with the control group, those experiencing EA-Based Dance Intervention reported fewer depressive symptoms from pre- to posttest.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138627873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marcus R. Waldman, Abbie Raikes, Katelyn Hepworth, Maureen M. Black, Vanessa Cavallera, Tarun Dua, Magdalena Janus, Susanne P. Martin-Herz, Dana C. McCoy, Ann M. Weber
{"title":"Psychometrics of psychosocial behavior items under age 6 years: Evidence from Nebraska, USA","authors":"Marcus R. Waldman, Abbie Raikes, Katelyn Hepworth, Maureen M. Black, Vanessa Cavallera, Tarun Dua, Magdalena Janus, Susanne P. Martin-Herz, Dana C. McCoy, Ann M. Weber","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22090","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22090","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Because healthy psychosocial development in the first years of life is critical to lifelong well-being, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations are increasingly interested in monitoring psychosocial behaviors among populations of children. In response, the World Health Organization is developing the Global Scales of Early Development Psychosocial Form (GSED PF) to facilitate population-level psychosocial monitoring. Once validated, the GSED PF will be an open-access, caregiver-reported measure of children's psychosocial behaviors that is appropriate for infants and young children. This study examines the psychometric validity evidence from 45 items under consideration for inclusion in the GSED PF. Using data from <i>N</i> = 836 Nebraskan (USA) children aged 180 days to 71 months, results indicate that scores from 44 of the 45 (98%) items exhibit positive evidence of validity and reliability. A bifactor model with one general factor and five specific factors best fit the data, exhibited strong reliability, and acceptable model fit. Criterion associations with known predictors of children's psychosocial behaviors were in the expected direction. These findings suggest that measurement of children's psychosocial behaviors may be feasible, at least in the United States. Data from more culturally and linguistically diverse settings is needed to assess these items for global monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/imhj.22090","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138488782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sheila R. Sjolseth, Cynthia A. Frosch, Margaret Tresch Owen, Samantha L. Redig
{"title":"Do toys get in the way? The duration of shared emotional experiences is longer when mothers engage their infants without toys","authors":"Sheila R. Sjolseth, Cynthia A. Frosch, Margaret Tresch Owen, Samantha L. Redig","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22092","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22092","url":null,"abstract":"<p>During mother-infant interaction, shared emotional experiences, defined as reciprocal and synchronous emotional sharing between mother and infant, are an indicator of early relational health. Yet, it is unclear how mothers’ efforts to engage with their infants relate to dyadic-level shared emotional experiences. Utilizing a sample of 80 randomly selected videos of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, we examined how mothers’ bids for interaction with their 6-month-old infants related to the duration of shared emotional experiences. An event sampling, sequential coding system was used to identify a maternal bid for interaction (i.e., with toy, without toy) and the subsequent presence or absence of a shared emotional experience, including duration of the shared emotional experience. Results indicated that shared emotional experiences were longer following mothers’ efforts to engage their infants in play without toys. Findings suggest that methods matter; researchers and practitioners interested in studying and promoting shared emotional experiences between mothers and infants may wish to focus on dyadic interactions without toys.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138483233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reflective supervision and reflective practice in infant mental health: A scoping review of a diverse body of literature","authors":"Mary Tobin, Síle Carney, Elaine Rogers","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22091","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22091","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Reflective practice is a core component of Infant Mental Health (IMH) training and work in the form of reflective supervision/consultation (RS/C). RS/C supports and facilitates relationship-based practice, and is considered to help prevent burnout and promote work satisfaction. In response to an identified gap in empirical research on RS/C, this scoping review aimed to give an overview of the broad range of study designs and outcomes by systematically charting empirical studies on RS/C in IMH-based work with children and families. Searches of Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, MEDLINE, APA PsychArticles, APA PsycInfo, and Web of Science were supplemented with a Google Scholar search and citation searching. Following title/abstract screening (<i>n =</i> 233) and full-text review (<i>n =</i> 168), 35 reports met criteria for inclusion. Key findings were organized into four categories: <i>Essential components and processes of RS/C</i>; <i>Experiences and outcomes of RS/C</i>; <i>Emerging issues in RS/C literature</i>; and <i>Measuring, researching, and reporting on RS/C</i>. Results describe the components and experience of engaging in quality RS/C, and show that practitioners generally experience RS/C as supportive and beneficial. The existing literature has some methodological limitations and further empirical research is needed on outcomes of RS/C. Practice implications and potential future research directions are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138463585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda N. Nili, Meghan Miller, Yudong Zhang, Philip R. Sherlock, James L. Burns, Anne Zola, Aaron Kaat, Lauren S. Wakschlag, Sheila Krogh-Jespersen
{"title":"What is typical: Atypical in young children's attention regulation?: Characterizing the developmental spectrum with the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles—Attention Regulation Infant-Toddler (MAPS-AR-IT) Scale","authors":"Amanda N. Nili, Meghan Miller, Yudong Zhang, Philip R. Sherlock, James L. Burns, Anne Zola, Aaron Kaat, Lauren S. Wakschlag, Sheila Krogh-Jespersen","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22087","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22087","url":null,"abstract":"<p>While attention dysregulation is a promising early indicator of neurodevelopmental risk, in particular attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it is difficult to characterize clinical concern due to its developmental expectability at the transition to toddlerhood. Thus, explicating the typical:atypical continuum of risk indicators is among the key future directions for research to promote early identification and intervention, and prevent decrements in the attainment of developmental milestones into early childhood. In this paper, we present the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles—Attention Regulation Infant-Toddler (MAPS-AR-IT) Scale, a novel parent-report survey of dimensional, developmentally specified indicators of attention (dys)regulation. Item Response Theory was employed to characterize the typical:atypical spectrum of both normative and more concerning dysregulation (including the contexts in which behavior occurs). We provide evidence of the validity of this measure in capturing the full typical:atypical spectrum via a longitudinal sample of typically developing children at 12–18 months of age (baseline) via concurrent scores on well-validated temperament and clinical measures. We also examine longitudinal stability and predictive validity if the MAPS-AR-IT via a clinical interview of ADHD symptoms at 24–30 months (follow-up). While not diagnostic, we present evidence of the utility of the MAPS-AR-IT in explicating individual neurodevelopmental risk and elucidating the broader typicality of behaviors related to attention (dys)regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/imhj.22087","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71427919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cultural relevance of fine motor domain of the ASQ in Guatemala","authors":"Abigail S. Angulo, Maureen Cunningham, Gretchen Domek, Sandra Friedman, Ayelet Talmi","doi":"10.1002/imhj.22088","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.22088","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Previous research suggests that the Ages and Stages Questionnaire—3rd ed. (ASQ) fine motor domain (FMD) may not be culturally relevant for developmental screening in a rural Guatemalan community, as the FMD accounts for 40% of all abnormal screenings after a needs assessment in this community. We hypothesize this is due to a lack of exposure to objects assessed in the questionnaire, such as blocks or light switches. The FMD scores of rural Guatemalan children (<i>n</i> = 56) participating in a child development program were compared with Spanish- and English-speaking Latinx-American children attending a US primary care clinic and screened at yearly well-child checks. Groups were matched for age gender, and socioeconomic status. Item-level analyses explored differences across the three groups. In the Guatemalan sample, the FMD abnormal score rates were 16%, 62%, and zero in the 12-, 24-, and 36-month-old children, respectively. Abnormal scores for the Guatemalan sample on the 24-month ASQ-3 significantly differed (<i>p</i> = .01) when compared to the Latinx-American groups. The 24-month questionnaire has more questions about objects than the 12- and 36-month questionnaires, which may explain the higher rates of abnormal scores. Developmental screening with ASQ-3 may not adequately capture the skills of children in similar communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71414765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}