Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

549

Tempering Temperament: Exploring the Influence of Maternal Mind-Mindedness on Infant Temperament in Shaping

Allira Doyle1, Emma E Walter1, Samudra Radhakrishnan1

  • 1School of Psychology, MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.

Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies
|July 24, 2025
PubMed

Although several studies independently explore temperament and parenting, research on connections between temperament and mind-mindedness are largely absent. This study examined relationships between maternal mind-mindedness and infant temperament on infant socioemotional wellbeing. Participants comprised culturally diverse mother-infant dyads (n = 63; 52.38% girls). Infants, aged 4- (n = 32) and 8-months-old (n = 31), and their mothers completed a free-play task. While direct relationships between mind-mindedness and wellbeing were not supported, an indirect interactional relationship between mind-mindedness and temperament on wellbeing was supported. Mind-mindedness moderated the relationship between negative affect and socioemotional development whereby infants with higher negative affect who received higher appropriate comments had better socioemotional wellbeing than their lower negative affect counterparts. This highlights that, for higher negative affect infants, appropriate comments are particularly influential in enhancing wellbeing. Effortful control predicted wellbeing, suggesting that specific temperament traits experience optimal socioemotional development independently of mind-minded parenting. These findings broaden research knowledge regarding the differential susceptibility hypothesis. Overall, this study has shown how wellbeing can be affected by the temperamental dispositions that infants bring into the world as well as the parenting experiences that they encounter.

Keywords:
differential susceptibilityinfant temperamentmind‐mindednessnegative affectsensitive parentingsocioemotional wellbeing

More Related Videos

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

3.2K
Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period06:40

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Published on: April 5, 2024

578

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
117
Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
127
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
79
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
132
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity01:23

Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity

Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
132
Traits, Mood, and Subjective Wellbeing01:22

Traits, Mood, and Subjective Wellbeing

Subjective well-being (SWB) refers to an individual's self-evaluation of their overall life satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. This multifaceted construct is typically assessed by analyzing the balance of positive and negative emotions alongside perceptions of life satisfaction. Personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion are strongly associated with variations in SWB, offering critical insights into the underlying mechanisms of emotional well-being.
Neuroticism and...
131