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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
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Maternal Emotion Regulation Strategies, Internalizing Problems and Infant Negative Affect
Erin S Edwards1, Jacob B Holzman1, Nicole M Burt1
1Northern Illinois University.
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
|August 9, 2017
Summary
Maternal emotion regulation (ER) strategies impact infant negative affect (NA) indirectly through maternal internalizing problems. Specifically, higher suppression and lower reappraisal were linked to increased infant NA.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Maternal Mental Health
- Infant Social-Emotional Development
Background:
- Maternal self-regulation and emotion regulation (ER) are linked to child social-emotional outcomes.
- The specific influence of maternal ER strategies on infant negative affect (NA) remains under-explored.
- Existing research highlights the impact of ER strategies on adult internalizing problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct and indirect relationships between maternal ER strategies and infant NA.
- To examine the mediating role of maternal internalizing problems in this association.
- To explore the reciprocal influence of infant NA on maternal internalizing difficulties.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design with 99 mother-infant dyads.
- Data collected at three time points within the first year postpartum.
- Assessment of maternal ER strategies (reappraisal, suppression), maternal internalizing problems, and infant NA.
Main Results:
- Maternal suppression indirectly predicted higher infant NA via maternal internalizing problems.
- Maternal reappraisal indirectly predicted higher infant NA via maternal internalizing problems.
- Infant NA at 4 months predicted maternal internalizing problems at 10 months postpartum.
Conclusions:
- Maternal ER strategies significantly influence infant NA, primarily through maternal internalizing symptoms.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing maternal mental health for infant well-being.
- Results suggest potential targets for early intervention to support mother-infant dyads.
Keywords:
Bi-Directional RelationsEmotion RegulationInfantsInternalizing ProblemsNegative AffectTemperamentMore Related Videos
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