Maternal and infant affect at 4 months predicts performance and verbal IQ at 4 and 7 years in a diverse population

Stephen J. Sheinkopf, Elena J. Tenenbaum, Daniel S. Messinger, Cynthia L. Miller-Loncar, Ed Tronick, Linda L. Lagasse, Seetha Shankaran, Henrietta Bada, Charles Bauer, Toni Whitaker, Jane Hammond, Barry M. Lester

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using existing longitudinal data from 570 infants in the Maternal Lifestyle Study, we explored the predictive value of maternal and infant affect and maternal vocalizations during 2 minutes of face-to-face interactions at 4 months on IQ scores at 4.5 and 7 years. After controlling for demographic factors, maternal depression, and prenatal drug exposure, maternal positive affect and maternal positive vocalizations emerged as predictors of both verbal and performance IQ at 4.5 and 7 years. Although infant positive affect during the interaction with the mother was not predictive of these outcome measures, infant positive affect towards an examiner predicted verbal but not performance IQ at 4.5 years. These results suggest that maternal positive affect may index emotional engagement in interaction that facilitates both verbal and nonverbal cognitive development, while infant social positive affect is specifically related to the acquisition of verbal reasoning abilities. These findings are significant because they are based on a discrete snapshot of observable behavior in infancy (just 2 minutes of interaction), because they extend the range of maternal behaviors and characteristics known to support positive developmental outcomes, and because they are derived from high-risk infants where prevention efforts may be beneficial. Potential mechanisms for these associations are discussed, as are the clinical implications for identifying dyads most in need of targeted interventions.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere12479
JournalDevelopmental Science
Volume20
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Funding

This study was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network and an inter institute agreement with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) through cooperative agreements: U10-DA-024117-01, U10-HD-21385, U10-DA-024128-06, U10-HD-2786, U10-DA-024119-01, U10-HD-27904, and U10-DA-024118-01, U10-HD-21397; NICHD contract N01-HD-2-3159.

FundersFunder number
Neonatal Research Network
National Institute on Drug AbuseU10-DA-024117-01, U10DA024119, U10-DA-024118-01, U10-HD-21385, N01-HD-2-3159, U10-DA-024128-06, U10-HD-21397, U10-HD-2786, U10-HD-27904
National Institute on Drug Abuse
NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Developmental and Educational Psychology
    • Cognitive Neuroscience

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