From co-regulation to self-regulation: maternal soothing strategies and self-efficacy in relation to maternal reports of infant regulation at 3 and 7 months
This study, conducted in Germany, examines the role of maternal soothing strategies to explain the association of maternal self-efficacy with infant regulation (crying and sleeping behavior). Questionnaire data of 150 mothers, living in Germany, with mixed ethnic and educational backgrounds were col...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
March 2024
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| In: |
Infant mental health journal
Year: 2024, Volume: 45, Issue: 2, Pages: 135-152 |
| ISSN: | 1097-0355 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/imhj.22098 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.22098 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/imhj.22098 
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| Author Notes: | Natalie Kiel, Gizem Samdan, Annika S. Wienke, Tilman Reinelt, Sabina Pauen, Birgit Mathes, Charlotte Herzmann |
| Summary: | This study, conducted in Germany, examines the role of maternal soothing strategies to explain the association of maternal self-efficacy with infant regulation (crying and sleeping behavior). Questionnaire data of 150 mothers, living in Germany, with mixed ethnic and educational backgrounds were collected when infants were 3 and 7 months old. Two types of maternal soothing strategies were distinguished: close soothing, involving close physical and emotional contact, and distant soothing, involving physical and emotional distancing from the infant. A cross-sectional SEM at 3 months indicated that maternal self-efficacy is associated with reported infant regulation through distant soothing strategies. Low maternal self-efficacy was associated with frequent maternal use of distant soothing, which in turn was related to reported infant regulation problems, that is, non-soothability and greater crying frequency. Frequent use of close soothing was associated with reported infant sleeping behavior, that is, frequent night-time awakenings. A longitudinal SEM further indicated that the effects of close soothing persisted at least until the infants' age of 7 months. The study showed how low maternal self-efficacy, increased use of distant soothing, and reported early infant regulation problems are intertwined and that, due to their persisting positive effect on infant soothability, close soothing better supports infant development. |
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| Item Description: | Zuerst veröffentlicht: 4. Januar 2024 Gesehen am 25.07.2024 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1097-0355 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/imhj.22098 |