Inhibition moderates the association between attributions and caregiving during interactions with a distressed simulated infant

• In Event: 1-194 - The role of negative attributions of child behavior in at-risk parenting

Integrative Statement

Attributions of negative intent to children have been linked to more negative (and less positive) caregiving behaviors. Moreover, poor inhibitory control has been linked to more negative/less positive parenting behaviors. Research examining the combined influence of inhibitory control and negative intent attributions on parenting behaviors is needed. To address this need, we examined the combined influence of parents’ inhibitory control and negative intent attributions on caregiving behavior during a simulated infant task. We hypothesized that higher negative intent attributions (and lower inhibitory control) would be associated with higher levels of negative caregiving behavior (and lower levels of positive caregiving behavior) during a simulated crying infant task. Moreover, we explored (a) whether parental inhibitory control moderated the association between negative intent attributions and parenting behavior, and (b) whether findings varied for mothers and fathers.

Participants included 150 general population parents (60.0% mothers). Inhibitory control was assessed at baseline using the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Color-Word Interference Task (Delis, Kaplan, & Kramer, 2001). Next, participants were instructed to care for the simulated crying infant for 30 minutes. Video recordings of the simulated infant task were coded using the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA; Clark, 1985, 1999). PCERA codes were combined to form positive/negative caregiving behavior scores. Parents reported attributions of negative intent to infants (e.g., can babies do things on purpose to be annoying) after completing the simulated crying infant task.
Results of a regression analysis predicting negative caregiving behavior during the simulated infant task revealed a significant inhibitory control by negative intent attribution interaction (see Figure 1). Inspection of this two-way interaction revealed that, as expected, higher levels of negative intent attributions were associated with higher levels of negative caregiving behavior; however, this association was apparent only when inhibitory control was high. Lower levels of inhibitory control were associated with higher levels of negative caregiving behavior, and this association was strongest when negative intent attributions were low.

Results of a regression analysis predicting positive caregiving behavior during the simulated infant task also revealed a significant inhibitory control by negative intent attribution interaction (see Figure 2). Inspection of this two-way interaction revealed that, as expected, higher levels of negative intent attributions were associated with lower levels of positive caregiving behavior; however, this association was apparent only when inhibitory control was high. Lower levels of inhibitory control were associated with lower levels of positive caregiving behavior, and this association was strongest when negative intent attributions were low. Results were not moderated by parent gender.
The present findings suggest that when mothers and fathers demonstrate high inhibitory control, negative intent attributions to infants are associated with more negative (and less positive) caregiving behavior during bouts of prolonged infant crying. However, when parents exhibit poor inhibitory control, their negative intent attributions may not influence how they respond during prolonged bouts of infant crying. Practitioners seeking to promote positive caregiving behavior (and reduce negative caregiving behavior) in response to infant crying should consider both parental inhibitory control and negative intent attributions when planning intervention strategies.

Authors

• David Bridgett, Northern Illinois University
  Presenting Author

• Julie Crouch, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joel Milner, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author

• John Skowronski, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author