Abstract
Background: Infants in lower middle income countries are often exposed to early adversities which may lead to suboptimal caregiving environments and place them at risk of not achieving their developmental potential. Synchrony and positive engagement in the mother-infant relationship plays a critical role in buffering the impact of early adversity. Shared Pleasure (SP) is considered a marker of high intensity positive interaction and may hold a promise of improving developmental outcomes.Methods: This study was part of a prospective observational study of mothers with and without mental illness in South Africa. Dyadic videos were assessed for SP and infant withdrawal (using the Alarm Distress Baby Scale) at 6 months. Infant developmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley's Scales for Infant and Toddler Development, third edition at 18 months.Results: Ninety-one dyads were assessed for SP. The occurrence of SP was low (20%). There was no significant association with an EPDS measure of maternal depression (p = 0.571) and SP moments. Infant withdrawal was high (72%) and associated with male infant gender (p = 0.025). There was a significant association between the occurrence of SP and a lower score of infant withdrawal (estimate = −1.29; SE = 0.4; p = 0.0002). The number of SP moments at 6 months was significantly associated with motor (estimate = 2.4; SE = 0.9; p = 0.007) and marginally significant with cognitive scores (estimate = 1.9; SE = 1.0; p = 0.052) at 18 months. Regression modelling differential outcomes showed a greater improvement in cognitive scores at 18 months in infants with an SP moment compared to those without an SP moment [SP average difference (AD) = 7.4 (2.4), no SP AD = 10.4 (1.2); p = 0.012]. Infants without an SP moment experienced a larger decrease in motor scores at 18 months compared to those with an SP moment [SP AD = −3 (3.0); no SP AD = −10.6 (1.5), p = 0.027].Conclusion: While the occurrence of SP in this sample was low and the rates of infant withdrawal were high, there were promising results suggesting early positive SP interactions may contribute to improvements in subsequent developmental outcomes.
Highlights
Infants in lower middle income countries are often exposed to early adversities which may lead to suboptimal caregiving environments and place them at risk of not achieving their developmental potential
The parent (MIMH) study assessed maternal clinical variables to investigate its impact on infant and relational outcomes
At 6 months, 73% percent of the mothers scored below the threshold for depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Summary
Infants in lower middle income countries are often exposed to early adversities which may lead to suboptimal caregiving environments and place them at risk of not achieving their developmental potential. Environmental adversity, caregiver mental illness and toxic stress, may contribute to the disruption of normal developmental processes [2, 3]. Infants born in such circumstances are considered as high risk and susceptible to psychosocial and physical developmental challenges [4]. Multiple interacting domains such as health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, and early stimulation are needed to promote physical growth and to enhance social and emotional development in infancy [3, 5]. Responsive caregiving in this context refers to the ability of the caregiver to make eye contact with, to model and encourage interaction while responding appropriately to the infant, and is considered a foundational component of the nurturing care that infants require in order to thrive
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