Developmental Origins of Infant Emotion Regulation: Mediating and Moderating Effects of Infant Temperament and Maternal Sensitivity

The current study examined perinatal factors that impact infant emotion regulation (ER) development. Prenatal depression, generalized anxiety, pregnancy-specific anxiety (PSA), and diurnal cortisol levels were assessed in 256 pregnant women in early and late pregnancy. Infant temperamental negativity was assessed at 3 months, and observational measures of infant ER during frustration and maternal sensitivity were assessed at 6 months. Results revealed that PSA had a positive direct effect on infant ER, which potentially indicated emotional over-regulation in these infants. PSA also had a negative indirect effect on infant ER through increased temperamental negativity, which was dependent on levels of maternal sensitivity. Specifically, infants with high negativity demonstrated emotional under-regulation, but only when their mother displayed low levels of sensitivity. The study identified two pathways by which PSA may result in long-term changes in infant emotional development. Implications for future research and intervention planning are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Clinical Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Thomas, Jenna

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Campbell, Tavis
• Giesbrecht, Gerald

• Psychology--Developmental

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/25632

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/2481