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Distress regulation in infancy: attachment and temperament in the context of acute pain

Rachel E Horton1, Rebecca Pillai Riddell, David Flora

  • 1*Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada; †Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; ‡Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; §Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; ‖Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|December 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Infant attachment style and temperamental fear influence distress regulation during immunizations. Secure infants showed slower distress recovery when temperamental fear was low, unlike avoidant infants.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Child psychology
  • Attachment theory

Background:

  • Attachment security influences infant emotional regulation.
  • Temperamental fear is a key individual difference factor in emotional reactivity.
  • The differential susceptibility hypothesis posits that certain traits confer vulnerability or resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the interplay between infant attachment, temperamental fear, and pain-related distress.
  • To test the differential susceptibility hypothesis in the context of infant stress responses.

Main Methods:

  • 130 caregiver-infant dyads participated.
  • Infant distress was measured during 12-month immunizations.
  • Attachment and temperamental fear were assessed using the Strange Situation Procedure and Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised.

Main Results:

  • Avoidant infants showed less distress before immunization compared to secure infants.
  • Temperamental fear moderated attachment's effect on distress regulation.
  • High temperamental fear led to slower distress regulation in avoidant infants compared to secure infants.

Conclusions:

  • Attachment and temperamental fear interact to influence distress regulation.
  • Findings offer partial support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis regarding infant stress responses.
Abstract

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