Abstract
Objective: To examine the impact of prenatal anxiety and maternal sensitivity on infant cognitive, motor and behavioral development
as assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II. Method: Maternal symptoms of anxiety during the last six months of
pregnancy were assessed using clinical diagnostic interview. Mother-infant dyads were followed-up at 7-months postpartum for the
assessment of maternal sensitivity and infant development. Maternal postnatal (concurrent) symptoms of anxiety and depression were
also assessed at this time. Maternal sensitivity was rated by independent observers from videotapes of mother-infant dyads engaged in
face-to-face interaction. Infant cognitive and motor development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development
administered during a home visit. Infant behavior during developmental testing was coded using the Behavior Rating Scales, the third
component of the Bayley Scales. Results: Data analyses using univariate Analyses of Variance were based on 77 mothers and their 7
month-old infants. Significant interactions indicated that prenatal anxiety and maternal sensitivity act in concert to shape infant
cognitive development (p=.03), and infant emotion regulation (p=.02), orientation and engagement (p=.007), and overall behavior
during developmental testing (p=.009). The findings are independent of maternal prenatal depression symptoms, and postnatal
symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Infants' cognitive and behavioral development appears to relate to the interactive
influences of maternal prenatal anxiety and postnatal care giving sensitivity. The findings are consistent with a model of cumulative
risk and are expected to contribute to our understanding of mechanisms of risk and to help identify targets of intervention/prevention
to benefit mothers and their infants.
as assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II. Method: Maternal symptoms of anxiety during the last six months of
pregnancy were assessed using clinical diagnostic interview. Mother-infant dyads were followed-up at 7-months postpartum for the
assessment of maternal sensitivity and infant development. Maternal postnatal (concurrent) symptoms of anxiety and depression were
also assessed at this time. Maternal sensitivity was rated by independent observers from videotapes of mother-infant dyads engaged in
face-to-face interaction. Infant cognitive and motor development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development
administered during a home visit. Infant behavior during developmental testing was coded using the Behavior Rating Scales, the third
component of the Bayley Scales. Results: Data analyses using univariate Analyses of Variance were based on 77 mothers and their 7
month-old infants. Significant interactions indicated that prenatal anxiety and maternal sensitivity act in concert to shape infant
cognitive development (p=.03), and infant emotion regulation (p=.02), orientation and engagement (p=.007), and overall behavior
during developmental testing (p=.009). The findings are independent of maternal prenatal depression symptoms, and postnatal
symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Infants' cognitive and behavioral development appears to relate to the interactive
influences of maternal prenatal anxiety and postnatal care giving sensitivity. The findings are consistent with a model of cumulative
risk and are expected to contribute to our understanding of mechanisms of risk and to help identify targets of intervention/prevention
to benefit mothers and their infants.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | s220 |
| Pages (from-to) | 150-150 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Infant Mental Health Journal |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 3 supplement |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
| Event | 12th world congress of World Association for Infant Mental Health: 12th world congress WAIMH - Leipzig, Germany Duration: 30 Jun 2010 → 3 Jul 2010 |