Infant Distress From the Still-Face and its Association With Increased Problem Solving: Implications for Early...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Infant Behavior
• Maternal Support

Background:

• Infant negative affect and problem-solving skills are crucial developmental markers.
• Maternal perceived social support is a key factor in early child development.
• The COVID-19 pandemic context (PEACE Study) provides a unique backdrop for examining these relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between infant negative affect and problem-solving skills.
• To investigate the moderating role of maternal perceived social support on this relationship.
• To understand how these factors interact in the perinatal period and early infancy.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study (PEACE Study) with 110 infants and mothers at two time points (T1: peripartum, T2: 8-10 months infant age).
• Utilized the Face-to-Face Still-Face (FFSF) procedure to assess infant negative affect.
• Employed maternal reports for perceived social support and infant problem-solving skills, with statistical controls for covariates.

Main Results:

• Infant negative affect showed a positive association with problem-solving skills (p=0.045).
• Maternal social support at T1 (perinatal period) significantly moderated this relationship, enhancing infant problem-solving (p=0.001).
• No moderating effect of maternal social support was found at T2 (infant 8-10 months).

Conclusions:

• Infant negative affect may indicate underlying problem-solving capacities.
• Enhancing maternal social support during the perinatal period can foster infant problem-solving abilities.
• These findings offer insights into resilience and coping mechanisms in early development.