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Infant's psychophysiological profile and temperament at 3 and 12 months

Raquel Costa1, Bárbara Figueiredo

  • 1University of Minho, School of Psychology, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal. rcosta@psi.uminho.pt

Infant Behavior & Development
|February 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Infant temperament profiles influence maternal perception and change over the first year. Both infant characteristics and mother-infant interaction quality shape these perceptions, highlighting early life influences.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Behavior
  • Maternal-Child Interaction

Background:

  • Infant temperament is a crucial aspect of early development.
  • Understanding factors influencing temperament perception is vital for child development research.
  • Early infant psychophysiological profiles and mother-infant interactions are key contextual factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze differences in infant temperament at 3 and 12 months based on psychophysiological profiles (withdrawn, extroverted, underaroused).
  • To examine changes in infant temperament from 3 to 12 months, considering psychophysiological profile and mother-infant interaction quality.
  • To investigate the influence of early infant characteristics and contextual factors on maternal perception of temperament.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) and Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) for infant assessment.
  • Measured cortisol reactivity via saliva samples before and after inoculation.
  • Employed Global Rating Scales (GRS) for mother-infant interaction and Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) for maternal reports on temperament.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in maternal perception of infant temperament were observed at 3 and 12 months across distinct psychophysiological profiles.
  • Most temperament dimensions showed stability from 3 to 12 months, with notable changes in distress, cuddliness, sadness, and approach.
  • Both infant psychophysiological profile and mother-infant interaction quality significantly influenced the pattern of these temperament changes.

Conclusions:

  • Infant characteristics established early in life significantly impact maternal perception of temperament.
  • Contextual factors, particularly mother-infant interaction quality, play a crucial role in shaping temperament perception changes.
  • These findings underscore the dynamic interplay between infant individuality and environmental influences on perceived infant temperament throughout the first year.

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