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Development of comorbid crying, sleeping, feeding problems across infancy: Neurodevelopmental vulnerability and
1Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Early Human Development
|April 24, 2017
Summary
Very preterm birth is linked to infant regulatory problems, but sensitive parenting did not show reciprocal effects. Neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities were stronger predictors of these issues than parenting sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Infant Health
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Infant regulatory problems, including excessive crying, feeding, and sleeping difficulties, are early indicators of future developmental issues.
- Comorbidity of regulatory problems suggests underlying neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities or impacts of parenting.
- Previous research has not fully explored the interplay between maternal sensitivity and regulatory problems across infancy within the same cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the prospective relationship between very preterm birth, co-occurring regulatory problems, and maternal sensitivity.
- To investigate potential reciprocal influences between maternal sensitivity and infant regulatory problems from birth to 18 months.
- To compare the predictive power of neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities and sensitive parenting on regulatory problems.
Main Methods:
- A prospective longitudinal study followed 178 infants (73 very preterm/very low birth weight, 105 full-term) and their caretakers from birth to 18 months.
- Regulatory problems were assessed using a structured parental interview at term, 3 months, and 18 months.
- Maternal sensitivity was evaluated through nurse observations at term and researcher observations of play tasks at 3 and 18 months.
Main Results:
- Very preterm birth was significantly associated with regulatory problems at term and 18 months.
- No significant association was found between very preterm birth and maternal sensitivity across infancy.
- Maternal sensitivity at term negatively predicted regulatory problems at 3 months, but this effect did not persist.
- No reciprocal effects were observed between maternal sensitivity and regulatory problems throughout infancy.
Conclusions:
- Neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities appear to be more consistent predictors of infant regulatory problems than sensitive parenting.
- While maternal sensitivity plays a role in early infancy, its long-term reciprocal influence on regulatory problems requires further investigation.
- Early identification and support for infants born very preterm are crucial, considering their heightened risk for regulatory issues.
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