Infant Crying Problems, Sensitive Parenting and Problems in Emotional and Behavioral Development at 18 Months

• In Event: 2-036 - Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes After Infant Crying, Sleeping and Feeding Problems

Integrative Statement

Introduction. Previous studies that investigated the association between early crying problems and child emotional and behavioral development revealed contradictory findings; either revealing a negative impact of crying problems on later emotional and behavioral development or revealing no long-term impact (Kim, 2011; Stifter & Braungart, 1992). However, the majority of these studies focused on childhood outcomes after infant crying problems and few studies examined outcomes in infancy (Hemmi, Wolke, & Schneider, 2011). In addition, many studies did not consider the role of parenting, while the quality of maternal parenting behavior is crucial for the development of children’s emotional wellbeing and behavior.
Hypotheses. We hypothesized that sensitive parenting would moderate the association between infant crying problems at 3 months and emotional and behavioral development and mother-child attachment at 18 months, with insensitive parenting increasing the chances of poorer outcomes.
Study population. We used data from the longitudinal Growth in At-risk INfants (GAIN) study which took place in England in 1998 in which 178 infants and their caretakers were followed-up until 18 months.
Methods. Crying problems were assessed at 3 months using parental interviews. Maternal sensitivity was assessed at 3 months using observations by trained researchers. Parent-child attachment was measured at 18 months using the strange situation procedure. Infant emotional and behavioral development was observed in two different situations at 18 months. In addition, parents reported on the behavioral problems of their infants at 18 months using the Child Behaviour and Health Questionnaire (CBHQ).
Results. There was no significant association between maternal sensitivity and infant crying problems at 3 months, nor was there a direct association between crying problems and secure attachment, and emotional and behavioral development and behavioral problems at 18 months. Nevertheless, the interaction of crying problems and insensitive parenting predicted insecure attachment (= 0.27, p< 0.05). Those with crying problems and insensitive mothers at 3 months were more likely to form an insecure attachment to their mothers at 18 months in comparison to those with crying problems and sensitive mothers. Similarly, there was a positive association between crying problems at 3 months and poor attention/hyperactivity at 18 months for those who had insensitive mothers (= 0.18, p< 0.05).
Conclusions. Clinicians should be aware that early crying problems might have a negative impact on the emotional and behavioral development of infants, particularly if the mother is not in tune with her infant’s cues. Thus, clinicians should use appropriate measures to assess parental behavior and provide guidance to increase sensitive parenting.

Authors

• Ayten Bilgin, Istanbul Medeniyet University
  Presenting Author

• Dieter Wolke, University of Warwick
  Non-Presenting Author