Poster #146 - COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and infant temperament: Maternal sensitivity as a moderator

• In Event: Poster Session 09

Abstract

For pregnant women, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in numerous stressors including uncertainty regarding prenatal care and perinatal infection. Research conducted prior to the pandemic has found prenatal stress to predict non-optimal temperament outcomes during infancy (Coplan, O’Neil, & Arbeau, 2005; Davis et al., 2007). However, few studies have examined these associations during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is critical to explore given a generation of children exposed to this disruptive event. Adaptive caregiving may represent a protective factor against adverse outcomes associated with pandemic-related stress and require further investigation. The aim of this study was to examine whether maternal sensitivity/responsiveness serves as a moderator with respect to links between COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and infant temperament. We hypothesized that greater maternal sensitivity and responsiveness during the postpartum period would attenuate the adverse effects of pandemic-related stress on infant temperament.

Women were administered a survey assessing their pandemic-related stress during their third trimester of pregnancy, and at two months postpartum mothers completed a measure of infant temperament (N=81). They also participated in a mother-infant interaction task wherein they were instructed to interact normally with their infant for ten minutes. These interactions were conducted in the home, video-recorded, and later coded for maternal sensitivity (caregiver responds to child’s behaviors in a timely and appropriate manner) and responsiveness (caregiver engages in behaviors that are developmentally and situationally appropriate). Observed-path models were used to examine maternal sensitivity/responsiveness as a moderator of associations between pandemic-related stress and infant temperament. Covariates included duration of time from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to when prenatal data was collected as well as infant age at postpartum data collection.

All of the models were just-identified. Maternal sensitivity/responsiveness was found to moderate the association between fear of infection and infant cuddliness at two months (Figure 1; AIC = 1968.61, BIC = 2045.25). More specifically, greater fear of infection predicted reduced infant cuddliness at low levels of sensitivity/responsiveness. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between feeling unprepared for birth and maternal sensitivity/responsiveness in predicting infant positive affectivity (Figure 2; AIC = 1932.19, BIC = 1996.85). Follow-up analyses demonstrated that feeling prepared for birth was associated with high positive affectivity at moderate or higher levels of maternal sensitivity/responsiveness. This pattern also occurred for two of the subscales within the positive affectivity factor, specifically vocal reactivity and smiling/laughter.

These results demonstrate that high maternal sensitivity/responsiveness buffered against the negative effects associated with fear of perinatal infection on infant regulation. Additionally, infants born to mothers who felt prepared for birth only displayed optimal levels of positive affectivity in the context of moderate or higher levels of sensitivity/responsiveness. Both findings highlight the critical role that high-quality caregiving plays in infant temperament development, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, different forms of pandemic-related stress predicted unique temperament outcomes during infancy, suggesting they may operate via unique mechanisms. Future studies should determine whether adaptive parenting continues to serve as a protective factor against pandemic-related stress during early childhood.

Authors

• Jennifer Mattera, Washington State University
  Presenting Author

• Josh Underwood, Washington State University

• Ayo Adaramola

• Margeaux Edwards

• Jolie Hinson

• Maria Amy Gartstein, Washington State University