It's You and Me: Infants' cross-modal communicative signals and mother-infant interactive behavior predict infant regulatory patterns in the still-face paradigm at 3 months.

Infant regulatory behavior develops since birth and impacts their early social interactions. Infants differ in the relative coherence and incoherence of their cross-modal communicative signals during en-face infant-caregiver interactions. We expand this research by evaluating whether different infant regulatory patterns observed during the Face-to-Face Still-Face (FFSF) at 3 months are associated with the coherence or incoherence of infants' cross-modal communicative behaviors during en-face interactions or with multiple dimensions of mother-infant interactive behavior during free-play. Analyses were based on data collected from 100 mother-infant dyads from urban, working- and middle-class backgrounds in Portugal who were videotaped during the FFSF and free play at 3 months. Results confirm that infants' different regulatory behavior patterns in the FFSF at 3 months are associated with the coherence and incoherence of their cross-modal interactive behaviors and specific aspects of mother-infant interaction. Infants with a Social-Positive oriented regulatory pattern during the FFSF displayed more coherent and less incoherent communicative behaviors with their mothers and were more cooperative during free play. In turn, their mothers were more sensitive. Our findings support the perspective that infants' regulatory behavior strategies in the context of caregiver regulatory support and sensitivity are likely to increase dyadic correspondence and infant ability to engage with the world.

Attachment and mother-infant interactions in dyads with infants born full-term, moderate-to-late preterm, and very-to-extreme preterm.

BACKGROUND: The impact of prematurity status on attachment quality remains indeterminate. Some studies found no differences between infants born preterm (PT) and infants born full-term (FT), while other investigations present opposite results. AIMS: We aim to contribute to this body of research by studying mother-infant interactive behaviors and quality of attachment in 3 independent samples: Full-Term (FT), Moderate-to-Late Preterm (MLPT) and Very-to-Extreme Preterm (VEPT). STUDY DESIGN: This is a longitudinal laboratory study conducted from 3 to 12 months of age (corrected-age in the case of infants born PT). SUBJECTS: The participants are 213 Portuguese infants (FT = 105; MLPT = 52; VEPT = 56) and their mothers. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mother-infant interactive behavior was observed in free-play at 3 and 9 months (corrected-age). Infant attachment was observed in Strange Situation at 12 months. RESULTS: Secure attachment is more prevalent in infants born FT, and ambivalent attachment is more prevalent in infants born VEPT. Infants with a secure attachment have higher gestational age and weight at birth. Infant and maternal interactive behavior quality is associated with attachment patterns and varies according to infant prematurity status. Last, the results indicate changes in maternal sensitivity and infant difficult behavior from 3 to 9 months of infant's age. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that prematurity status impacts attachment quality. Changes in maternal and infant behavior from 3 to 9 months suggest a period of rapid non-linear development, supporting a transactional multilayered approach to the study of mother-infant relationship.

Predicting attachment in Portuguese infants born very or extremely preterm: Understanding the roles of infant regulatory behavior, maternal sensitivity, and risk factors.

A growing body of research shows that early attachment relationships are foundational for children's later developmental and psychosocial outcomes. However, findings are mixed regarding whether preterm birth predicts later attachment, but insecurity is generally more prevalent among infants at higher medical and/or social/familial risk. This longitudinal study aimed to identify specific relational, familial/demographic, and perinatal predictors of attachment in a sample of 63 Portuguese infants born very or extremely preterm (VEPT, <32 gestational weeks) and their mothers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. One-third of the mothers had social/family risk factors (e.g., single parent, immigrant, unemployed, low education, and/or low income). At 3 months (corrected age), dyads were observed during social interaction in the Face-to-Face Still-Face paradigm (FFSF) and during free play. At 12 months, mother-infant dyads were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation. Over half (58.7%) of the infants were classified as insecurely attached. Social-Positive Oriented regulatory behavior pattern, higher maternal sensitivity, higher infant cooperation during free play, number of siblings and an absence of social/family risk factors were associated with attachment security. Perinatal variables were unrelated to attachment. Findings indicate that both relational and social contextual factors contribute to attachment in this biologically vulnerable sample.

Un creciente cuerpo investigativo muestra que las relaciones afectivas tempranas son fundamentales para posteriores resultados de desarrollo y sicosociales de los niños. Sin embargo, los resultados son variados acerca de si el nacimiento prematuro predice la afectividad posterior, pero la inseguridad es generalmente más prevalente entre infantes bajo más alto riesgo médico y/o social/familiar. Este estudio longitudinal se propuso identificar factores específicos de predicción de la afectividad, relacionales, familiar/demográficos y perinatales en un grupo muestra de 63 infantes portugueses nacidos muy o extremadamente prematuros (VEPT, < 32 semanas gestacionales) y sus madres de diversos niveles socioeconómicos. Un tercio de las madres tenían factores de riesgo social/familiar (v.g. madre soltera, inmigrante, desempleada, de baja educación y/o de bajos recursos económicos). A los tres meses (edad corregida), se les observó a las díadas durante la interacción social en el paradigma de Cara a Cara y Rostro Inmutable (FFSF) y durante el juego libre. A los 12 meses, se les observó a las díadas madre-infante por medio de la Situación Extraña de Ainsworth. Se clasificó más de la mitad (58.7%) de los infantes como afectivamente inseguros. Entre los factores de predicción de la afectividad segura se incluyó un patrón de conducta regulatoria con orientación social positiva durante FFSF, una sensibilidad materna más alta y la cooperación del infante durante el juego libre, así como la ausencia de factores de riesgo sociales/familiares. Las variables perinatales no estuvieron relacionadas con la afectividad. Los resultados indican que los factores contextuales, tanto relacionales como sociales contribuyen a la afectividad en este grupo biológicamente vulnerable.

The impact of low birthweight in infant patterns of regulatory behavior, mother-infant quality of interaction, and attachment.

It remains unclear whether infants born preterm are more likely to develop an insecure attachment with their mothers. In this study, instead of using gestational age criteria, we observe attachment in infants born with very low birthweight. Although the collinearity between gestational age and birthweight is high, infants born with very low birthweight for their gestational age tend to stay more days in NICU and to have more comorbidities than other infants with the same gestational age. Thus, we wonder about the impact of low gestational birth (per se) in infants' regulatory behavior, the quality of mother-infant interactions, and attachment security. The participants are 71 infants' weight lower than 1599 g of gestational weight (varying between 23 and 34 weeks of gestational) and their mothers. Dyads were observed in free play and during Face to Face Still-Face paradigm with infants at 3 months of corrected age. At 12 months of corrected age, mother-infant attachment was observed during Strange Situation. Results indicate that infants with low/very low gestational birthweight have high levels of insecure attachment (70 %) and non-positive patterns of regulatory behavior (64 %). Maternal and infant interactive behavior is highly associated with infant attachment. In turn, maternal interactive behavior is associated with gestational age, birthweight, and number of days in NICU.