Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Associations between problems with crying, sleeping and/or feeding in infancy and long-term behavioural outcomes in

Mirja Helen Hemmi1, Dieter Wolke, Silvia Schneider

  • 1Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health, National Centre of Competence in Research, Institute of Psychology, University of Basel, Birmannsgasse 8, Basel, Switzerland. mirja.hemmi@unibas.ch

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|April 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Infant regulatory problems like excessive crying or feeding issues predict childhood behavioral issues. Children with these early problems show increased externalizing and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Approximately 20% of infants experience excessive crying, sleeping, or feeding problems.
  • These early regulatory issues may predict later behavioral problems in childhood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a quantitative meta-analysis on the association between infant regulatory problems and childhood behavioral issues.
  • To investigate the link between infant regulatory problems and internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) problems.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis of 22 longitudinal studies (1987-2006) involving 1935 children.
  • Statistical analysis using Cohen's d to quantify the association.
  • Assessment of heterogeneity and publication bias using I(2) statistic, meta-analysis of variance, and Rosenthal's fail-safe N.

Main Results:

  • A significant association (effect size 0.41) between infant regulatory problems and increased childhood behavioral problems was found.
  • Externalizing and ADHD problems were the strongest behavioral outcomes linked to regulatory issues.
  • Cumulative problems and clinical referral exacerbated the risk of behavioral problems, though comorbidity, type, or duration of regulatory problems did not significantly moderate the outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Infants with regulatory problems are at higher risk for developing behavioral problems in childhood.
  • The risk is particularly elevated in multi-problem families.
  • Further research is needed to understand the long-term behavioral outcomes for infants with sleep, feeding, or multiple regulatory disturbances.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG08:20

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG

Published on: May 3, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral01:16

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral

The oral stage is the initial phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, occurring from birth to approximately 12 to 18 months. During this period, the infant's mouth serves as the primary source of pleasure, with actions such as sucking, chewing, biting, and drinking playing a crucial role in reducing tension. These activities are essential not only for nourishment but also for the infant's psychological and emotional satisfaction.
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...