How much maternal sensitivity is adaptive: Fear temperament, high-intensity fear, and preschooler's behavioral...

The current study focused on the role of temperament and parenting in contributing to high-intensity fear during toddlerhood and its impact on behavioral problems in the preschool age.

A sample of 1292 low-income rural families were recruited, where infant fear temperament at 6 months old and toddler's fear expressions at 15 months old were observed and assessed. Maternal sensitivity was also observed and assessed at both time points. Mothers rated their children's behavioral problems at 36 months old.

A path model revealed quadratic effects of maternal sensitivity on the development of high-intensity fear at 15 months, in that a moderate level of maternal sensitivity was linked with higher high-intensity fear for children with extra high temperamental fear, while high and low levels of maternal sensitivity were linked with higher high-intensity fear for those with extra low temperamental fear. A quadratic effect was also found, where high maternal sensitivity channeled toddlers with low normal fear towards internalizing behaviors at 36 months. Finally, a quadratic effect suggested that high maternal sensitivity increased the risks for externalizing behaviors at 36 months for toddlers with high versus low levels of high-intensity fear.

The low-income, rural community sample limited study generalizability.

These findings speak to the complexity of person-environment interactions in the development of fear and associated behavioral problems, with implications for future research and intervention efforts.