Sheri Goldstein

Mothers with zero Beck depression scores act more “depressed” with their infants

Mothers who scored zero on the Beck Depression Inventory ( N = 25) were compared to “depressed” mothers (high scores on the Beck) ( N = 39) and nondepressed mothers ( N = 98) during face-to-face interactions with their 5-month-old infants. The interaction videotapes were rated on the Interaction Rating Scales and were coded second-by-second for attentive/affective behavior states. The zero Beck mothers and their infants received lower ratings and were in less positive behavior states (alone or together) than the high scoring Beck “depressed” mother/infant dyads and even more frequently than the nondepressed mother/infant dyads. The lower activity levels, lesser expressivity, and less frequent vocalizing were suggestive of “depressed” behavior in both the mothers and their infants. In addition, the infants of the zero Beck mothers had lower vagal tone and lower growth percentiles (weight, length, and head circumference) than the infants of nondepressed mothers, although they did not differ from the infants of depressed mothers on these measures. These data suggest that mothers who report no depressive symptoms may present as much, if not greater risk, for their infants than mothers who do report depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory.

Infant day care facilitates preschool social behavior

Seventy-one preschool-age children entering infant day care at varying times and receiving varying amounts of infant day care were compared on their reunion-with-parent behavior, teacher and parent ratings of their behavior, and playground play interactions. Age of entry into day care (≤ 6 months vs. > 6 months) had no significant effect on attachment to mother as measured by reunion behaviors or on play and socialization skills as measured by observation and behavior rating scales in a full-time day-care setting. Furthermore, children with more hours and months of day care engaged in less watching, solitary play, and teacher comfort-seeking behavior, and they showed more cooperative play, positive affect, peer interaction, and positive verbal interaction. Thus continuous infant day care in quality centers appears to facilitate preschool social behavior and does not negatively affect attachment behavior.

Aerobics enhances cardiovascular fitness and agility in preschoolers.

Investigated effects of aerobic exercise on a sample of 24 preschoolers. Thirty minutes of aerobic exercises were provided daily for a period of 8 weeks for a group of 12 children while the remaining 12 children engaged in freeplay on the school playground. The children were given pretests and posttests on the following measures: a submaximal exercise test on a pediatric bicycle (baseline and three workloads), an agility test, a health knowledge test, a self-esteem scale, and an observational measure of their gross-motor activity. Despite comparability on pretests, significant group X repeated measures effects suggested that the aerobic exercise group showed decreases in heart rate at all three workloads as well as increases in agility and self-esteem following the exercise program. These findings suggest that cardiovascular fitness, agility, and self-esteem can be facilitated in preschoolers by an aerobic exercise program.

Hospitalization stress in children: sensitizer and repressor coping styles.

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.

Children's Effects on Parenting Stress in a Low Income, Minority Population

Relationships between parenting stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Index and other maternal and child characteristics were investigated in a sample of 66 low income mothers and their 5- to 8-year-old children who are at risk for educational disabilities. The data provide concurrent and construct validity support for the Parenting Stress Index. In addition, child characteristics (self-esteem, behavior conduct, and spelling achievement) and maternal characteristics (self-esteem and crowding stress) related to parenting stress in this sample. That these variables combined to explain approximately half of the variance on the Parenting Stress Index suggests that they represent important sources of parenting stress, at least during the early grade school years. Because the childrens behavior and academic achievement constituted significant sources of parent stress, supportive counseling services may be needed that are often required for children of low income, less well-educated parents.

Interaction behavior of infants and their dual-career parents

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.

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

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.

Temperament and play interaction behavior across infancy

Temporal stability and convergent validity of infant temperament ratings and play interaction behaviors were examined across early to late infancy. Stability was noted for the temperament dimensions activity, rhythmicity, intensity, mood, and persistence. Stability also was noted for the infant play interaction behaviors looking, smiling, and vocalizing. In addition, convergent validity was noted for attentive-affective behaviors and comparable temperament ratings; for example, gaze aversion and nondistractability, and distress brow behavior and negative mood. Generally easier temperament infants were noted to vocalize more and to cry less frequently during their play interactions.