Associations between Parent Cardiac Physiology and Parenting Behaviors on Infant Regulation with Mothers and Fathers

• In Event: Poster Session 08
  In Poster Session: PS 08 Topic - Biological Processes: Psychophysiology

Abstract

Parents are one of the earliest influences on child regulation. Previous studies have found that higher parental sensitivity is associated with more adaptive infant physiological regulation (Gunning et al., 2013). Parent respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and pre-ejection period (PEP), measures of reactive/regulatory capacity, have been found to contribute to parenting behaviors (i.e., Augustine & Leerkes, 2019) and subsequent child regulation development (i.e., Joosen et al., 2013; Moore et al., 2009). Researchers have emphasized the importance of studying both physiological markers simultaneously (Berntson et al., 1991). However, it is unknown whether parent RSA and PEP co-activation/co-inhibition indirectly affects infant regulation development through parenting. In addition, the majority of research examining parent correlates of infant regulation has overlooked fathers. The present study addressed these gaps in the literature and examined whether parenting behaviors (parental sensitivity, intrusiveness) and parent cardiac physiology (RSA, PEP) predicted infant regulation with mothers and fathers.

Families participated when infants were 4, 6, and 8 months of age (+/- 14 days). Parent-infant dyads participated in a modified Still-Face Paradigm (Tronick et al., 1978) while parent and infant cardiac physiology were acquired. Parent order was counterbalanced. Parental sensitivity and intrusiveness was rated during the play and reunion episodes of the Still-Face Paradigm (Braungart-Rieker et al., 2014) with higher scores indicating greater sensitivity and lower intrusiveness. Cardiac physiology data was screened for artifacts; RSA and PEP were calculated using established algorithms (MindWare Technologies, Gahanna, OH; Berntston et al., 1990; Lozano et al., 2007). Parent-report of infant negative reactivity (Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised, Gartstein & Rothbart, 2002) was included as a covariate.

Preliminary multiple regression models using a portion of the current sample (n=51 mother-infant dyads; n=53 father-infant dyads) were ran to examine whether parent RSA suppression (change in RSA from baseline to the still-face episode of the Still-Face Paradigm) and parenting (sensitivity, intrusiveness) at 4 and 6 months of age predicted infant RSA suppression at 8 months (controlling for infant negative reactivity and prior infant RSA suppression). Findings revealed a significant mother intrusiveness by mother RSA suppression interaction predicting infant RSA suppression (B = 1.35, SE = 0.53, ß = 0.37, p = 0.01, See Figure 1). Follow up simple slope analyses revealed that the slope for mothers high in RSA suppression was statistically significant (ß = 0.48, t = 2.57, p = 0.01), such that they had infants with higher RSA suppression as their maternal intrusiveness decreased (higher intrusiveness = lower intrusiveness). The slope for mothers low in RSA suppression was not significant. No significant findings were revealed for fathers. Additional models will include additional dyads and PEP data (e.g., RSA/PEP co-activation/co-inhibition). Current findings suggest that multiple facets of the parent are associated with infant regulation.

Authors

• Diane M Lickenbrock, Western Kentucky University
  Presenting Author

• Alexis Marie Hernandez, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jenna Mayes, Western Kentucky University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mary Richter, Western Kentucky University
  Non-Presenting Author