Individual Differences in the Effectiveness of Maternal Soothing Behaviors
On Infant Stress Response
A variety of research has investigated individual differences in infants’ reactivity to stress, but few have also considered how mothers differ in their soothing behaviors in response to infant distress. The present study investigates individual differences in the effectiveness of eight maternal regulatory behaviors on reducing the intensity and duration of 2- and 6-month-old’s stress response to an inoculation. Additionally, we examine the stability of these behaviors as well as that of infants’ stress response.
As part of a longitudinal study, 146 infants and their mothers were videotaped following an inoculation at 2 and 6 months. The infants’ and mothers’ behaviors were coded off-line from the moment the infant received the shot, until he or she stopped crying. For the purposes of our analyses, we focused on a period of 4 minutes after the start of the inoculation. Behaviors were coded during each 5-second interval, for a total of 48 intervals. Infant reactivity was coded according to a 4-point scale, representing an increasing intensity of crying: 0=none, 1=fuss, 2=low cry, 3=high cry. During the same 5-second intervals, the presence/absence of any of the following maternal behaviors was coded: Affection, Touching, Holding or Rocking, Vocalization, Caretaking, Distraction, Face to Face interaction, and Feeding or use of a Pacifier.
Consistent with prior studies
(e.g., Worobey & Lewis, 1989), we found
significant stability across age in the intensity of infant cry response (r =
.19, p<.04), but no stability in the duration of crying across age (r
= .06, p<.5). With respect
to maternal soothing behaviors, the following behaviors showed significant stability
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