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Differences in infant negative affectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alyssa R Morris1, Darby E Saxbe1
1Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Infant temperament was assessed in mothers who gave birth during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-born infants had higher negative affectivity, linked to maternal stress and reduced social contact.
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Area of Science:
- Perinatal Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to maternal mental health and social support systems.
- Understanding the impact of pandemic-related stressors on infant development and maternal perception is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare infant temperament between infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic and those born prior.
- To investigate the role of maternal mental health and social contact in these differences.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study comparing 263 mothers who gave birth during the pandemic and 72 prior.
- Utilized questionnaires for perinatal mental health, social contact, and infant temperament assessment at 3 months postpartum.
Main Results:
- Mothers of pandemic-born infants reported significantly higher infant negative affectivity (p < .001).
- No differences were found in infant surgency or effortful control.
- Maternal prenatal and postpartum stress mediated the differences in negative affectivity.
- Reduced postpartum social contact correlated with higher infant negative affectivity in the pandemic group.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have influenced maternal perceptions of infant temperament.
- Maternal mental health and social isolation during the pandemic are key factors affecting infant negative affectivity.
- Findings highlight the need for continued support for maternal well-being and social connection in public health crises.