Regulationsstörungen in der frühen Kindheit: Ergebnisse der Leipziger Beratungsstelle für Eltern mit Säuglingen und Kleinkindern

Infant, maternal, and familial predictors and correlates of regulatory problems in early infancy: The differential role of infant temperament and maternal anxiety and depression

BACKGROUND

Excessive infant crying, feeding and sleeping problems are likely to emerge from the complex interplay of various factors.

AIMS

To investigate the role of infant (e.g., temperament), maternal (e.g., anxiety and depressive disorders), and familial (e.g., social support) factors as potential precursors of infant regulatory problems.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective-longitudinal study.

SUBJECTS

286 mother-infant dyads were investigated from early pregnancy until 16 months postpartum via questionnaires and interviews.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Regulatory problems at 2, 4 and 16 months postpartum assessed by standardized diagnostic interviews.

RESULTS

Fussy infant temperament and maternal anxiety disorders were associated with excessive infant crying (OR=1.16, 95%CI:1.05-1.29, OR=3.28, 95%CI:1.16-9.26) and feeding problems (OR=1.05, 95%CI:1.01-1.11, OR=2.27, 95%CI:1.36-3.80) whereas maternal depressive disorders were associated with infant sleeping problems (OR=2.55, 95%CI:1.06-6.11). Moreover, high maternal age (OR=0.86, 95%CI:0.75-0.98) was associated with a lower risk for excessive crying and being a single mother (OR=0.16, 95%CI:0.03-0.73) and cognitive reappraisal to regulate emotions (OR: 0.59, 95%CI:0.36-0.96) was associated with a lower risk for sleeping problems.

CONCLUSION

Excessive infant crying and feeding problems may be related to interactional deficits of anxious mothers who perceive their infants as "difficult" during soothing or feeding situations. Sleeping problems may be transmitted already during pregnancy by an altered sleep-wake-rhythm of mothers with a history of depression or by a genetic predisposition. Therapeutic interventions should focus on maternal anxiety and depression, behavior management techniques to cope with difficult situations with "fussy" infants and potential protective factors (e.g. favorable maternal emotion regulation) to address crying, feeding and sleeping problems.

[Chances and limitations of professional support for adolescent mothers, their partners and babies: a case history]

Adolescent pregnancy usually leads to notification and involvement of a broad array of sources of support. It is then important to assess risk factors and resources with regard unique to the young woman, as well as to protect the (as yet unborn) child. However, due to the complexity of such cases, helpers often lose sight of other family members whose lives undergo a radical change, such as, for example, the child's father. What action should be taken in order to generate and promote previously inadequate parenting capacities, for example with the assistance of institutions? Which relationships within the family, but also with persons outside the family, require consideration, protection and support? By means of a case study, this paper aims to demonstrate and discuss difficulties and possibilities connected with assisting a very young family.