Date of Award
4-1994
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Paul Mountjoy
Second Advisor
Dr. Galen Alessi
Third Advisor
Dr. Michele Burnette
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Recommended Citation
Rosa, Michele Lee, "A Descriptive Study of the Relationship between Maternal Perceptions and Responsivity to Infant Distress Cues" (1994). Masters Theses. 3581.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3581
Off-campus Download
COinS
Comments
The relationship between mothers' perceptions of their infant's distress and choice of soothing strategies was explored. Thirteen mother-infant pairs were videotaped during a routine well-baby fourteen or eighteen months immunization visit. Dependent measures included (a) type and duration of infant emotional states, (b) type and duration of maternal soothing strategies (i.e., responsiveness to infant emotional cues) and (c) maternal cognitions surrounding their choices.
Results showed that mothers were poor at identifying the majority of soothing strategies they employed. In addition, some mothers continued to implement a strategy they identified as being neutral or worsening in its effectiveness. Descriptive analyses showed passive non-responding to be most effective strategy prior to the immunization while a combination of social reassurance and sensory intervention proved to be the most effective strategy after the immunization.