Infant temperament and maternal sensitivity behavior in the first year of life

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of psychology Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 421 - 428
• Main Authors: KIVIJÄRVI, MARJA, RÄIHÄ, HANNELE, KALJONEN, ANNE, TAMMINEN, TUULA, PIHA, JORMA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing, Ltd 01-10-2005
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude; Birth Order; early interaction; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant Behavior - psychology; Infant temperament; Male; Maternal Behavior - psychology; maternal sensitivity; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Temperament
• ISSN: 0036-5564; 1467-9450
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2005.00473.x

Maternal sensitivity behavior (MSB) and infant temperament were investigated among 56 Finnish low‐risk mothers and their full‐term and healthy infants. The mothers were from families with good economic status, the infant's parents lived together, and the mothers were well educated. Mothers and infants were video‐recorded in free‐play situations at home, and evaluated using the Parent‐Child Early Relational Assessment Scale (PCERA). The infants were also assessed using the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (R‐ITQ) and the Toddler Temperament Questionnaire (TTQ). Most of the temperament characteristics showed moderate stability during the first year. MSB was related to infant temperament characteristics at 3, 6 and 12 months of age. Gender differences in temperament were evident already at 6 and 12 months of age. Few prior studies have reported gender differences in infancy.