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Interactive effects of maternal physiological arousal and regulation on maternal sensitivity: Replication and extension in an independent sample.

Authors :
Leerkes EM
Girod SA
Buehler C
Shriver LH
Wideman L
Source :
Developmental psychobiology [Dev Psychobiol] 2023 Mar; Vol. 65 (2), pp. e22375.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which mothers' physiological arousal (i.e., skin conductance level [SCL] augmentation) and regulation (i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] withdrawal) interacted to predict subsequent maternal sensitivity. Mothers' (N = 176) SCL and RSA were measured prenatally during a resting baseline and while watching videos of crying infants. Maternal sensitivity was observed during a free-play task and the still-face paradigm when their infants were 2 months old. The results demonstrated that higher SCL augmentation but not RSA withdrawal predicted more sensitive maternal behaviors as a main effect. Additionally, SCL augmentation and RSA withdrawal interacted, such that well-regulated maternal arousal was associated with greater maternal sensitivity at 2 months. Further, the interaction between SCL and RSA was only significant for the negative dimensions of maternal behavior used to derive the measure of maternal sensitivity (i.e., detachment and negative regard) suggesting that well-regulated arousal is particularly important for inhibiting the tendency to engage in negative maternal behaviors. The results replicate findings from mothers in previous studies and demonstrate that the interactive effects of SCL and RSA in relation to parenting outcomes are not sample specific. Considering joint effects of physiological responding across multiple biological systems may enhance understanding of the antecedents of sensitive maternal behavior.<br /> (© 2023 The Authors. Developmental Psychobiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1098-2302
Volume :
65
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Developmental psychobiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36811368
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22375