Nitza Vega-Lahr

Effects of maternal unavailability on mother-infant interactions

Abstract To determine the differential effects of maternal emotional and physical unavailability on infant interaction behavior, 4-month-old infants were subjected to the mothers still-face and to a brief separation from the mother. Although the infants became more negative and agitated during both conditions, the still-face was more stressful.

Effects of tactile/kinesthetic stimulation on the clinical course and sleep/wake behavior of preterm neonates

Abstract Forty preterm neonates treated in an intensive care nursery (M gestational age= 31 weeks, M birthweight=1274 gms) were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The treatment infants received tactile/kinesthetic stimulation (body massage and passive movements of the limbs) for three 15-min periods during three consecutive hours for a 10-day period. At the end of the treatment period the behavioral states and activity level of the neonates were monitored during sleep/wake behavior observations. In addition, neonatal behaviors were assessed on the Brazelton scale. The treated infants averaged a 47% greater weight gain per day (25 vs. 17 grams), and spent more time awake and active during sleep/wake behavior observations. On the Brazelton scale the treated infants showed more mature orientation, motor, habituation, and range of state behaviors. Finally, the treated infants were discharged 6 days earlier yielding hospital cost savings of

Changes in imitative behavior during early infancy

3,000 per infant.

Hospitalization stress in children: sensitizer and repressor coping styles.

Abstract Changes in imitative behavior and attentiveness were observed in 40 infants when they were 2 to 6 months of age. The facial expressions happy, sad, and surprised were modeled in a trials-to-criterion procedure, and the infants looking time and mouth movements were recorded by an observer who was unaware of the face being modeled. In addition, the observer recorded her guess as to the expression being modeled by the corresponding expression on the infants face and rated the infants expressivity. The results suggested that looking time, correspondence between the mouth expression of the infant and the mouth expression modeled, accuracy of the observers guess, and expressivity ratings decreased from 2 to 3 and 4 to 6 months. Although matching of mouth movements with the modeled mouth movements and accuracy of guesses were greater than chance over the 2 to 6 month-period, the decreases in these measures suggest that imitative behavior declined across early infancy. The decrease in looking time suggests that imitative behavior and attentiveness may be related and highlights the limitation of this paradigm for assessing the development of imitation during early infancy.

Face-to-face interaction behavior across early infancy

To examine the effects of individual sensitizer/repressor coping styles on responses to hospital procedures, 56 children (mean age = 6.5 years) were observed during hospitalization for minor surgery. Although the sensitizer children, as classified by their mothers, did not differ from the repressor children on baseline measures including hospital preparation, they were more talkative, expressive, and active during hospital play observations. During blood tests and preoperative injections, the sensitizers, compared with the repressors, were reported by their mothers to observe the procedures, to seek additional information about the procedures, and to show more protest behaviors. Finally, the sensitizer children required fewer hours of intensive care.

Interaction behavior of infants and their dual-career parents

Abstract Stability and change in mother-infant interaction behavior were assessed across early infancy. At 8 versus 4 months, the infants showed more smiling, vocalizing and motor-activity, and their mothers touched and moved their infants limbs less often. Stability was noted only for infant distress-brow and mothers touching the infant. Although very few relationships were apparent between mother and infant behavior at 4 months, several maternal behaviors at 4 months were related to infant behaviors at 8 months, and several relationships were noted between maternal and infant behavior at 8 months.

Reliability, stability, and relationships between infant and parent temperament☆

Abstract The behaviors of dual-career parents were compared in face-to-face interactions with their 8-month-old infants who attended on all-day infant nursery. Mothers, as compared to fathers, exhibited more frequent smiling, vocalizing, and touching with their infants. In turn, the infants spent a greater proportion of the interaction time smiling and being motorically active when they were interacting with their mothers versus their fathers.

Separation stress of nursery school infants and toddlers graduating to new classes

Abstract Reliability, stability, and relationships between infant and parent temperament were assessed using infant adaptations of 2 childhood temperament inventories. Both scales were moderately reliable, stability was moderate for the 4- to 18-month periods, and significant correlations were noted between mother and infant temperament ratings.

A medieval kingdom: Leader-follower styles of preschool play☆

The play behaviors and sleep patterns of 12 infants (15 months) and 20 toddlers (24 months) were observed during the first and fourth week of the month preceding and following their graduation to new nursery classes. Observations were made and activity level was monitored during free play, sleep state changes were recorded during naptime and parents completed questionnaires on behavioral, sleep, eating, toileting, and illness changes during this transition. As compared to baseline, observations during the week preceding graduation and the week following graduation to a new class revealed greater amounts of fussing, verbal interaction, physical contact (both affectionate and aggressive), wandering, and fantasy play. Activity level was elevated and absenteeism more frequent. Latency to sleep was longer, more crying occurred preparatory to sleep and a lesser percentage of nap time was spent sleeping. The infants as compared to the toddlers were less agitated just prior to graduation, but more agitated during the first week in their new class. Those infants/toddlers who moved to a new class with a close friend appeared to be less affected by the transfer than those who did not move with a close friend.

An art appreciation curriculum for preschool children

Abstract Three studies were conducted to determine the validity and utility of a leader—follower preschool social style classification system developed by Adcock and Segal (1983) called the Medieval Kingdom. In their system, preschool children were classified as Lords, Bishops, Vassals, and Serfs as a function of their leader—follower styles. In Studies 1 and 2 children were designated as one of these social types based on global descriptions of the types, and their play behaviors were compared during classroom free play (Study 1) in a mixed age, 2- to 4-year-old group and during playground free play (Study 2) in a same age 4-year-old group. The Lords and Bishops exhibited more frequent leadership behaviors (organization/maintenance of play), while Serfs showed more follower-type behaviors (nondirective and peripheral play behaviors). Vassals behaviors fell between those of the Lords/Bishops and the Serfs. Finally, a case study (Study 3) investigated the utility of pairing leaders-followers to reduce the aggressive behavior of followers in the classroom. Verbal reinforcement of the dyadic play of paired leaders and followers facilitated a reduction in aggressive behavior.