Department of Human Development & Family Science, College of Health and Human Sciences, Florida State University. Tallahassee, FL, USA.
Dev Psychopathol. 2023 May;35(2):782-790. doi: 10.1017/S0954579422000037. Epub 2022 Mar 2.
In light of the dynamic systems perspective, the current study expanded existing literature by examining the moderating effect of maternal sensitivity on the quadratic association between infant negative reactivity and future executive function development. Using a longitudinal, multimethod design, we addressed executive function development among preschoolers. This study utilized data from the Family Life Project ( = 1292). Infant negative reactivity at 6 months, maternal sensitivity across first 3 years, and executive functions during preschool age were observational assessed. A path model with moderation analyses revealed a U-shaped quadratic association between infant negative reactivity and preschoolers' inhibitory control, only when maternal sensitivity was high. The results suggest that maternal sensitivity may assist infants with both low and high, but not moderate, levels of negative reactivity towards better executive function development. Findings support the ongoing nonlinear person-environment interplay during early years of life.
从动态系统的角度来看,本研究通过检验母亲敏感性对婴儿负性反应和未来执行功能发展之间二次关系的调节作用,扩展了现有文献。本研究采用纵向、多方法设计,探讨了学龄前儿童的执行功能发展。本研究使用了家庭生活项目的数据(n=1292)。婴儿在 6 个月时的负性反应、母亲在最初 3 年的敏感性以及学龄前儿童的执行功能都是通过观察评估的。一个具有调节分析的路径模型显示,婴儿负性反应和学龄前儿童抑制控制之间呈 U 型二次关系,只有当母亲敏感性高时才会出现这种关系。研究结果表明,母亲的敏感性可能有助于婴儿提高执行功能,无论是在低水平还是高水平的负性反应,而不是在中等水平的负性反应下。研究结果支持生命早期持续的非线性人与环境相互作用。