The role of infant sleep in the relationship between cumulative risk and infant social-emotional development

<p>The current study aimed to understand the effect of cumulative risk on the social-emotional functioning of infants. Additionally, this study examined sleep as a potential protective factor, which may promote healthier social-emotional outcomes despite risk. A sample of 325 caregiver-infant dyads completed established developmental, behavioral, and caregiver questionnaires as well as PediaTrac^TM, an experimental tool to track infant and toddler development. More cumulative risk exposure was not associated with typical social-emotional development but was associated with more problem behaviors at 12 months and lower sleep efficiency at 9 and 12 months. Higher sleep efficiency was also associated with positive social-emotional outcomes. When predicting problematic and typical social-emotional development, no significant interaction effects were found, suggesting that sleep may not act as a protective factor in high-risk infants. These findings indicate that an intervention targeting sleep efficiency may promote healthy social-emotional functioning in all children, regardless of risk exposure.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2021

Author dc:creator

• Lobermeier, Michelle

Contributors dc:contributor

• Renee Lajiness-O’Neill, PhD
• Angela Staples, PhD
• Catherine Peterson, PhD

• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1090

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2461