THE ALARM DISTRESS BABY SCALE IN A LONGITUDINAL PORTUGUESE STUDY REANALYZED WITH ATTACHMENT DATA

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe relationship established between the infant and the caregiver is central to both parents and infants, and provides one of the most important environments in wich children develop. This study aimed to assess the effect of infant's psychophysiological functioning early in life on the quality of mother–infant interaction and on later attachment, and to explore the mediation effects of the quality of mother–infant interaction on the association between the infant's psychophysiological functioning and attachment security. A longitudinal prospective design was conducted with 94 infants and their mothers. Eight‐week‐old infants were assessed with the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (T.B. Brazelton & J.K. Nugent, 1995) and the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (A. Guedeney & J. Fermanian, ). At 8 to 12 weeks of age, cortisol levels were measured both before and after routine inoculation. Mother–infant interaction was evaluated at 12 to 16 weeks, using the Global Rating Scales (L. Murray, A. Fiori‐Cowley, R. Hooper, & P. Cooper, ). The Strange Situation procedure (M. Ainsworth, M. Blehar, E. Waters, & S. Wall, 1978) was performed at 12 months. The overall quality of mother–infant interaction mediates the relation between infant's behavioral and physiological profile and infant attachment: The probability of been securely attached increased with good mother behavior and with good overall interaction. The co‐construction of the mother–infant relationship depends on the infant characteristics and on patterns of interaction.