Poster #139 - Leaving infant to cry out: Making a mountain out of a molehill

• In Event: 1-005 - Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Introduction: There has been a continuing discussion about whether or not mothers should leave their infants to cry out (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978; Bell & Ainsworth, 1972; Gewirtz & Boyd, 1977; van Ijzendoorn & Hubbard, 2000). It was shown that leaving infant to cry out is associated with an increase in the crying duration and frequency (Bell & Ainsworth, 1972), as well as insecure attachment at 12 months (Ainsworth et al., 1978). Nevertheless, these findings were not replicated in a study with a larger sample (van Ijzendoorn & Hubbard, 2000), which showed that ignoring infant’s crying signals might rather allow infant to learn how to self-soothe. Thus, it remains unclear if leaving infant to cry out is associated with an increase in cry duration and frequency and insecure attachment. Moreover, it is unknown if leaving infant to cry out is associated with other aspects of behavioural/emotional development and behavioural problems in infancy.
Aims of the study: First, to investigate the association between leaving infant to cry out and crying duration and frequency during the 18-month period. Second, to investigate the association between leaving infant to cry out during the first 6 months and attachment (insecure, disorganised), behavioural/emotional development and behavioural problems at 18 months.
Material and Methods: The final sample of this study with complete longitudinal data comprised 178 infants and their caretakers. Leaving infant to cry out, cry duration and frequency were assessed at term, 3, 6 and 18 months. Attachment was measured at 18 months using the strange situation procedure. Behavioural/emotional development of the infant was assessed with two observational measures at 18 months. Furthermore, parents reported on the behavioural problems of their infants at 18 months using Child Behaviour and Health Questionnaire (CBHQ).
Results: Leaving infant to cry out a few times at term was significantly negatively associated with crying duration at 18 months (-0.22, p< 0.01). Furthermore, leaving infant to cry out often at 3 months had significant negative association with crying duration at 18 months (-0.21, p< 0.05). There were no significant associations between leaving infant to cry out at 6 months and crying duration at 18 months. Furthermore, there were no significant associations between leaving infant to cry out during the first 6 months and frequency of crying at any of the assessment points. Last, there were no significant associations between leaving infant to cry out during the first 6 months and insecure attachment, disorganised attachment, observed behavioural/emotional development and parent-rated behavioural problems at 18 months.
Conclusions: Supporting the findings of van Ijzendoorn and Hubbard’s (2000) study, this study shows that being less responsive in relation to crying early on may allow the infant to try self-soothing. Moreover, leaving to cry out has no negative influence on infant’s behavioural/emotional development at 18 months.

Authors

• Ayten Bilgin, Istanbul Medeniyet University
  Presenting Author

• Dieter Wolke, University of Warwick
  Non-Presenting Author