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Physiological functioning moderates infants' sensory sensitivity in higher conflict families

Micah A Mammen1, Alex Busuito1, Ginger A Moore1

  • 1The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

Developmental Psychobiology
|May 31, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Parental conflict during infancy may heighten children's sensitivity to sensory stimuli. This effect is more pronounced in infants with higher physiological arousal and lower self-regulation capabilities.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychology
  • Infant Behavior

Background:

  • Exposure to parental conflict is linked to emotional and behavioral issues in children.
  • Infants may develop heightened sensitivity to environmental conflict cues.
  • Understanding early precursors to negative child outcomes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between parental conflict and infants' behavioral sensitivity to general sensory stimuli.
  • To explore whether autonomic arousal and regulation moderate this association.
  • To identify potential early markers for children at risk due to family environment.

Main Methods:

  • Examined 36 infants (23-42 weeks) and their parents.
  • Measured infant baseline skin conductance (SC) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) for autonomic arousal and regulation.
  • Collected parent reports on levels of parental conflict and infant behavioral sensory sensitivity.

Main Results:

  • Parental conflict was associated with increased behavioral sensitivity to sensory stimuli in infants.
  • This association was stronger in infants exhibiting higher physiological arousal (higher SC).
  • Infants with lower physiological regulation capacity (lower RSA) showed a stronger link between parental conflict and sensory sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • Infant exposure to parental conflict may lead to heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli.
  • This increased sensitivity appears contingent on the infant's baseline physiological arousal and regulatory capacity.
  • Findings suggest a potential pathway from early family environment to later sensory processing and behavioral outcomes.

Keywords:
autonomic nervous systeminfancyparent conflictsensitizationsensory sensitivity

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