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Cited by 367Attachment and Relationship DynamicsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Infant and parent factors associated with early maternal sensitivity: A caregiver-attachment systems approach

Open access
Mills-Koonce, W. Roger, Gariépy, Jean-Louis, Propper, Cathi, Sutton, Kelly, Calkins, Susan, Moore, Ginger, Cox, Martha·2007·Infant Behavior and Development
DOI 10.1016/j.infbeh.2006.11.010
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Abstract

We examined variations in maternal sensitivity at 6 months of child age as a function of child negativity and maternal physiology. We expected maternal vagal withdrawal in response to infant negative affect to facilitate the maintenance of sensitivity, but only for mothers of securely attached children. One hundred and forty-eight infant-mother dyads were observed in multiple contexts at 6 months of child age, and associations among maternal and child variables were examined with respect to 12-month attachment quality. Mothers of later securely attached children were more sensitive than mothers of avoidant children. However, sensitivity decreased for all mothers at high levels of infant negative affect. Furthermore, for mothers of avoidant children, vagal withdrawal was associated with sensitivity to child distress. No association was found between vagal withdrawal and sensitivity for mothers of securely attached children. This suggests that mothers of avoidant children may be uniquely challenged by the affective demands of their infants.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In 148 infant-mother dyads, maternal sensitivity at 6 months was higher among mothers of later secure infants than later avoidant infants, but sensitivity decreased for all mothers under high infant negative affect. Maternal vagal withdrawal moderated the negativity-sensitivity link only for mothers of later avoidant children, suggesting those mothers may be uniquely challenged by infant distress.

Key findings

  • Mothers of children later classified as secure were significantly more sensitive at 6 months than mothers of children later classified as avoidant; no significant sensitivity difference was found for mothers of resistant children.
  • Infant negative affect was positively related to lower maternal sensitivity across all attachment classifications, with no interaction between attachment classification and infant negative affect.
  • A significant three-way interaction among infant negative affect, maternal vagal withdrawal, and attachment classification predicted maternal sensitivity [F(2, 178) = 3.48, p < .05]; probing showed low vagal withdrawal plus high infant negativity was associated with significantly less maternal sensitivity only in avoidant dyads [F(1, 25) = 5.05, p < .05].
  • No association was found between vagal withdrawal and sensitivity for mothers of securely attached children; when insecure classifications were collapsed, low maternal vagal withdrawal with elevated infant negativity was associated with lower sensitivity [F(2, 178) = 6.07, p < .05].

Methods

  • Participants were 148 families from the Durham Child Health and Development Study: 56% African-American, 44% European-American; approximately 53% low income; 51% male children. At 12 months, 96 children were secure, 37 insecure-avoidant, and 15 insecure-resistant.
  • At 6 months, mother-child dyads were observed in free play, book reading, and recovery after challenge tasks (Still Face Paradigm and arms restraint); infant negative affect was coded in 5-s intervals, maternal sensitivity was rated with 5-point scales, and maternal cardiac data yielded respiratory sinus arrhythmia/vagal withdrawal.
  • At 12 months, attachment was classified using the Ainsworth Strange Situation Paradigm. Hierarchical linear modeling tested associations among infant negative affect, maternal sensitivity, vagal withdrawal, and attachment classification across contexts, controlling for ethnicity and income.

Limitations

  • The paper states that infant negativity and maternal sensitivity were rated within the same observational contexts, so no causal attribution or full disaggregation of caregiver and attachment systems can be made.
  • The paper states that the small sample of resistant children prevented successful probing of vagal-withdrawal interactions for that subgroup.
  • The paper notes that disorganized dyads were excluded, and that missing cardiac data due to artifact editing or equipment malfunction accounted for approximately 25% of cases from each observational context; evident from the text, the design is correlational and cannot distinguish temperament from emerging attachment processes.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.infbeh.2006.11.010

Cites

76 of 76 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 44 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Income was negatively correlated with child negative affect during the challenge task (r=-.18, p<.05).

    “Income was positively correlated with maternal sensitivity in the contexts of free play (r=.34, p<.001) and book reading (r=.27,p<.001) and was negatively correlated with child negative affect during the challenge task (r= -.18, p <.05).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    African-American mothers were observed to be less sensitive in the free play context (t=2.69, p<.01).

    “African-American mothers were observed to be less sensitive in the contexts of free play (t = 2.69, p <.0 1) and book reading (t = 4.82, p <.01) and displayed less vagal withdrawal during the challenge task (t= 2.09, p <.05).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    There were no significant correlations across context for infant negative affect.

    “There were no significant correlations across context for infant negative affect.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    No association was found between vagal withdrawal and sensitivity for mothers of securely attached children.

    “No association was found between vagal withdrawal and sensitivity for mothers of securely attached children.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For mothers of avoidant children, vagal withdrawal was associated with sensitivity to child distress.

    “Furthermore, for mothers of avoidant children, vagal withdrawal was associated with sensitivity to child distress.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 33
  • May combine two claims. 19
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    There were no correlations among covariates in the free play context.

    “There were no correlations among covariates in the free play context.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    The distribution of 12-month attachment classifications in the present sample consisted of 96 children classified as secure, 37 children classified as insecure-avoidant, and 15 classified as insecure-resistant.

    “The distribution of 12-month attachment classifications in the present sample consisted of 96 children classified as secure, 37 children classified as insecure-avoidant, and 15 classified as insecure-resistant.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The factor loadings for sensitivity, intrusiveness, and negative regard were .88, .89, and .75 in the free play context; .88, .86, and .75 in the book reading context; and .91, .90, and .40 in the challenge tasks context.

    “The factor loadings for sensitivity, intrusiveness, and negative regard were .88,.89,and .75respectively in the free play context; .88,.86,and .75 in the book reading context; and .91,.90, and .40 in the challenge tasks context.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the expanded HLM, no single main effect on maternal sensitivity or two-way interactions were observed.

    “In this model no single main effect on maternal sensitivity or two-way interactions were observed.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Vagal withdrawal moderated the association of infant negative affect with maternal sensitivity at 6 months, but only for mothers of children who were avoidant at 12 months, not for mothers of securely attached children.

    “These analyses revealed that vagal withdrawal does moderate the association of infant negative affect with maternal sensitivity at 6 months, but only for mothers of children who were avoidant at 12 months [F(1, 25) = 5.05, p <.05; Fig. 1].”
    • Also stated in: § 5.3. Maternal sensitivity, infant negative affect and mother's vagal withdrawal across attachment classifications · plain
      “The significant three-way interaction between attachment, infant negativity, and vagal withdrawal did provide evidence of physiological moderation of the infant negativity-maternal sensitivity association; however, this moderating influence was found for mothers of insecure-avoidant children, not mothers of securely attached children.”
    • Also stated in: § 5.3. Maternal sensitivity, infant negative affect and mother's vagal withdrawal across attachment classifications · plain
      “Interestingly, we did not find high vagal withdrawal in response to high infant negativity to be predictive of sensitive parenting in mothers of securely attached children.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    At 6 months there were already differences in infant behavior following a stressful situation akin to how these infants will respond 6 months later in reunion periods of the strange situation.

    “However, it was interesting to see that at 6 months there were already differences in infant behavior following a stressful situation akin to how these infants will respond 6 months later in reunion periods of the strange situation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The average intraclass correlation across coders for the negative regard scale was .81.

    “The average intraclass correlation across coders was .81.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Sensitive parenting might be challenged and reduced by infant negativity, but enhanced when the child positively stimulates the mother and responds to her bids for interaction.

    “Their findings suggest that sensitive parenting might be challenged and reduced by infant negativity, but enhanced when the child positively stimulates the mother and responds to her bids for interaction”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Crockenberg (1981) source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites van den Boom (1994) source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Although the factor loading for negative regard in the challenge tasks context was low, the eigenvalues from the factor analysis remained consistent with a one-factor solution.

    “Although the factor loading for negative regard in the challenge tasks context was low, the eigenvalues from the factor analysis remained consistent with a one-factor solution.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The average intraclass correlations across coders for the sensitivity composite were .87 in free play, .85 in book reading, and .91 in challenge recovery.

    “The average intraclass correlations across coders for the sensitivity composite thus derived in the free play, book reading, and challenge recovery were .87,.85,and .9 1, respectively.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Missing data due to high levels of artifact editing or equipment malfunction accounted for approximately 25 percent of cases from each observational context.

    “Missing data due to high levels of artifact editing or equipment malfunction accounted for approximately 25 percent of cases from each observational context (data analytic procedures described below allow for the inclusion of missing data in the current analyses).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Differential maternal responding to infant distress signals may be associated with and supported by differences in maternal reactivity and self-regulation, both of which have known biological bases in the autonomic and central nervous systems.

    “differential maternal responding to infant distress signals may be associated with and supported by differences in maternal reactivity and self-regulation, both of which have known biological bases in the autonomic and central nervous systems (Rothbath & Derryberry,1981).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rothbath & Derryberry,1981

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Shifts between positive and negative affect are the primary mechanism of communication for infants.

    “Bowlby's (1969) attachment theory highlighted the importance of shifts between positive and negative affect as the primary mechanism of communication for infants.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Bowlby (1969)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Repeated experience with sensitive caregiving allows the child to develop a sense of efficacy and agency and to use the full repertoire of emotional communication in a well-regulated manner.

    “Repeated experience with this type of caregiving allows the child to develop a sense of efficacy and agency and to use the full repertoire of emotional communication in a well-regulated manner (Tronick,1989).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Tronick,1989 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The average intraclass correlation across coders for the intrusiveness scale was .80.

    “The average intraclass correlation across coders was .80.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Negative affect is the most potent tool of communication available to the infant because of its distinctness and saliency for the mother in almost any situation.

    “Bowlby (1969) posited that negative affect is the most potent tool of communication available to the infant because of its distinctness and saliency for the mother in almost any situation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Bowlby (1969)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Cohen's kappa for the attachment coders was .85 for 30 percent of the full sample.

    “Cohen's kappa for these coders was k = .85for 30 percent of the full sample.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

    Premisecitation

    Sensitivity expressed when the child is fearful, anxious or distressed might be more prognostic of a secure attachment than sensitivity displayed during nonstressful episodes.

    “Several researchers, such as Thompson (1997), have proposed that -sensitivity expressed when the child is fearful, anxious or distressed might be more prognostic of a secure attachment than sensitivity displayed during nonstressful episodes . . .‖ (p.596).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thompson (1997) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Heart-rate variability, or vagal tone, has been linked to several measures of cognitive and emotional processes involving attention and stimulus appraisal.

    “Heart-rate variability, or vagal tone, has been linked to several measures of cognitive and emotional processes involving attention and stimulus appraisal (Lacey & Lacey, 1958;Porges, Arnold, & Forbes, 1973;Richards, 1987;Wenger, 1941).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lacey & Lacey, 1958

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Porges, Arnold, & Forbes, 1973

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Richards, 1987 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The epoch durations for RSA are typical for studies of short duration tasks and have been validated by previous research.

    “While these epoch durations are relatively brief, they are typical for studies of short duration tasks and have been validated by previous research (Huffman et al., 1998).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Huffman et al., 1998 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Mothers of insecurely attached children, especially avoidant children, have more difficulties with their own emotion regulation and parental function under conditions of infant distress than mothers of secure children.

    “Based on previous findings that mothers of insecurely attached children (especially of avoidant children; Cassidy, 1999) have more difficulties with their own emotion regulation and parental function under conditions of infant distress than mothers of secure children”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cassidy, 1999

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Data files that required editing of more than 10 percent of the data were not included in the analyses.

    “Data files that required editing of more than 10 percent of the data were not included in the analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Of the 155 families, 7 were excluded due to audio-visual difficulties that made their videotaped assessments impossible to code.

    “Of those, 7 families were excluded due to audio-visual difficulties that made their videotaped assessments impossible to code.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The average intraclass correlation among coders for infant negative affect was .89 across all contexts of observation.

    “The average intraclass correlation among coders was .89across all contexts of observation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Premisereasoning

    The caregiving system must adequately detect and attend to shifts in infant affect in order to support the development of a secure attachment relationship.

    “The caregiving system must adequately detect and attend to these shifts in order to support the development of a secure attachment relationship.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    There was a 10 percent rate of attrition from the first to the second time point, resulting in a total sample of 155 families that completed all assessment protocols.

    “There was a 10 percent rate of attrition from the first to the second time point, resulting in a total sample of 155 families that completed all assessment protocols.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Highly irritable infants tend to receive less sensitive care and are at greater risk for developing insecure relationships to their caregiver.

    “Two reports by Crockenberg (1981) and van den Boom (1994) that highly irritable infants tend to receive less sensitive care and are at greater risk for developing insecure relationships to their caregiver were especially compelling in this regard.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Crockenberg (1981) source

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    • cites van den Boom (1994) source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Under challenging conditions, the vagal brake is released and the resulting decrease in heart-rate variability and increase in cardiac output facilitates active engagement and monitoring with respect to a set goal.

    “However, under challenging conditions, this -brake‖ is released and the resulting decrease in heart-rate variability and increase in cardiac output facilitates active engagement and monitoring with respect to a set goal.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Porges, 1995 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Polyvagal theory suggests that somatomotor and visceromotor nerve fibers that innervate organs such as the larynx, pharynx, bronchi, and heart act synergistically to promote social interaction.

    “Interestingly, polyvagal theory (Porges, 1995) suggests that somatomotor and visceromotor nerve fibers that innervate organs such as the larynx, pharynx, bronchi, and heart act synergistically to promote social interaction.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Porges, 1995 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The current analyses are limited to dyads with organized attachment relationships at 12 months of age.

    “The current analyses are limited to dyads with organized attachment relationships at 12 months of age.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The literature portrays mothers of avoidant children as more irritable, less adaptable, and more easily dysregulated than mothers of secure children.

    “Recall that the literature portrays these mothers as more irritable, less adaptable, and more easily dysregulated than mothers of secure children (Egeland & Farber, 1984;Mangelsdorf et al., 1990).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Egeland & Farber, 1984 source

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    • cites Mangelsdorf et al., 1990

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Within disorganized samples, forced ABC classification of children is often differentiated by maternal sensitivity, with forced secure children receiving sensitive care to a similar degree as primarily secure children.

    “In fact, within disorganized samples the forced ABC classification of children is often differentiated by maternal sensitivity, with forced secure children receiving sensitive care to a similar degree as primarily secure children (Mills-Koonce, Gariepy, Sutton, & Cox, under review).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mills-Koonce, Gariepy, Sutton, & Cox, under review

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Both infant negativity and maternal sensitivity reflect scores assigned within the same contexts of observation, and therefore no attribution of causality or disaggregating of the caregiver-attachment systems can be made with the current data.

    “It should be emphasized that both infant negativity and maternal sensitivity reflect scores assigned within the same contexts of observation, and therefore no attribution of causality or disaggregating of the caregiver-attachment systems can be made with the current data.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A decrease of vagal tone during periods of environmental challenge has been linked to self-regulation and the ability to engage the source of stimulation or take distance from it.

    “Similarly, a decrease of vagal tone during periods of environmental challenge has been linked to self-regulation and the ability to engage the source of stimulation or take distance from it (Calkins, 1997;Kagan, 1994;Porges, 1996Porges, , 1998;;Stifter & Fox, 1990;Stifter & Jain, 1996).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Calkins, 1997 source

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    • cites Kagan, 1994

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    • cites Porges, 1996 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Given these findings, maternal vagal withdrawal is an important physiological response system to increased child negativity, but only for mothers of later avoidant children.

    “Given these findings, we are led to conclude from the current data that maternal vagal withdrawal is an important physiological response system to increased child negativity, but only for mothers of later avoidant children.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Effective vagal withdrawal has been examined as an index of self-regulation and may underlie the behavioral attention strategies necessary for regulation of arousal.

    “As such, effective vagal withdrawal has been examined as an index of self-regulation and may underlie the behavioral attention strategies necessary for regulation of arousal (Huffman et al., 1998;Posner & Rothbart, 2000).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Huffman et al., 1998 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Posner & Rothbart, 2000 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Strange Situation Paradigm classifies children into secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant categories based on Ainsworth et al. (1978).

    “Patterns of child behaviors observed during the Strange Situation Paradigm are used to classify children into the following three broad categories: secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecureresistant based on the procedures outlined by Ainsworth et al. (1978).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ainsworth et al. (1978)

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Under most conditions, heart rate is kept low and heart-rate variability high via the nucleus ambiguous serving as a vagal brake in order to curb the use of psychophysiological resources.

    “Porges explains that under most conditions, heart rate is kept low and heart-rate variability high via the nucleus ambiguous serving as a vagal -brake‖ in order to curb the use of psychophysiological resources.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Porges, 1995 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Porges' (1995) polyvagal theory proposes that vagal withdrawal is critical for individual functioning during periods of challenge.

    “Porges' (1995) polyvagal theory proposes that vagal withdrawal is critical for individual functioning during periods of challenge.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Porges' (1995) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Disorganized attachments have been linked to maternal behaviors such as disruptive affective communication, overt familial risks such as maltreatment, or other broad environmental factors such as the death of a caregiver.

    “Rather, disorganized attachments have been linked to maternal behaviors such as disruptive affective communication (Lyons-Ruth, Bronfman, & Parsons, 1999), overt familial risks such as maltreatment (Carlson, Cicchetti, Barnett, & Braunwald, 1989), or other broad environmental factors such as the death of a caregiver (van IJzendoorn,1995).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lyons-Ruth, Bronfman, & Parsons, 1999

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Carlson, Cicchetti, Barnett, & Braunwald, 1989 source

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    • cites van IJzendoorn,1995 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    Because of the small sample of resistant children, we were unable to estimate and test these associations as related to vagal withdrawal for this subgroup.

    “Furthermore, because of the small sample of resistant children we were unable to estimate and test these associations as related to vagal withdrawal for this subgroup.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    HLM is ideally suited to accommodate the features of the current data set, including both the nested nature of the observations within the parent-child dyads and the need for statistical power to test complex interactions within a limited sample size.

    “HLM is ideally suited to accommodate the features of the current data set, including both the nested nature of the observations within the parent-child dyads and the need for statistical power to test complex interactions within a limited sample size (Littell, Milliken, Stroup, & Wolfinger, 1996).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Littell, Milliken, Stroup, & Wolfinger, 1996

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The absence of an effect of vagal withdrawal on the behavior of mothers of securely attached children may suggest that these mothers are not significantly aroused or dysregulated by infant negativity, and thus have no need for increased physiological support for their parenting behavior.

    “The absence of an effect of vagal withdrawal on the behavior of mothers of securely attached children may then suggest that these mothers are not significantly aroused or dysregulated by infant negativity, and thus have no need for increased physiological support for their parenting behavior.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Both the arousal-dysregulation hypothesis and the disengagement-engagement hypothesis cannot be adequately supported or refuted with the current data.

    “Both the arousal-dysregulation hypothesis and the disengagement-engagement hypothesis are interesting possibilities, and unfortunately neither can be adequately supported or refuted with the current data.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    A particular strength of this research is that multiple levels of the caregiving system are simultaneously examined, including both environmental and physiological contributors to parenting.

    “A particular strength of this research is that multiple levels of the caregiving system are simultaneously examined, including both environmental and physiological contributors to parenting.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    Due to the relatively small sample of children with resistant attachments we were unable to successfully probe these interactions for mothers of resistant children.

    “Due to the relatively small sample of children with resistant attachments we were unable to successfully probe these interactions for mothers of resistant children.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
46 of 46

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Experiencing effective soothing and comfort when distressed is particularly important for the development of self-regulation.

    “Although experiencing sensitive caregiving is important for children in all contexts, experiencing effective soothing and comfort when distressed may be particularly important for the development of self-regulation.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The inability to rely on the caregiver for comfort when distressed may lead the child to develop coping strategies, such as avoidance, that in the long term are maladaptive.

    “In contrast, the inability to rely on the caregiver for comfort when distressed may lead the child to develop coping strategies, such as avoidance, that in the long term are maladaptive.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Infant distress can be quite dysregulating for mothers, especially when persistent and intense.

    “Although being aroused by a crying infant is certainly an adaptive feature of the caregiving system, infant distress can also be quite dysregulating for mothers, especially when persistent and intense.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Each descriptive aspect of parental sensitivity requires some degree of behavioral self-regulatory capabilities on the part of the mother.

    “Each of these descriptive aspects requires some degree of behavioral self-regulatory capabilities on the part of the mother.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A decrease in RSA from baseline levels (vagal withdrawal) reflects the parasympathetic influence of vagal regulation, whereby withdrawal of parasympathetic control of the heart allows for sympathetic activity and thus increases in heart rate and cardiac output.

    “A decrease in RSA from baseline levels (i.e., vagal withdrawal) is believed to reflect the parasympathetic influence of vagal regulation, whereby the withdrawal of parasympathetic control of the heart allows for sympathetic activity and thus increases in heart rate and cardiac output.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Vagal withdrawal facilitates the flexible shift of resources from a stable state to one that can meet environmental demands.

    “As vagal withdrawal facilitates the flexible shift of resources from a stable state to one that can meet environmental demands, we expected elevated withdrawal to be associated with the maintenance of sensitive care even under conditions of high child distress.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Initial levels of negative affect are related to sensitivity ratings only to the degree to which mothers do not appropriately detect and respond to their infant's signals.

    “This allows us to assume the following: (1) Initial levels of negative affect are related to sensitivity ratings only to the degree to which mothers do not appropriately detect and respond to their infant's signals”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Prolonged increases in infant negative affect during the interaction are likely due to interactive error and lack of maternal reparations.

    “(2) prolonged increases in infant negative affect during the interaction are likely due to interactive error and lack of maternal reparations”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    It is possible that the bi-directional nature of the caregiver-attachment system causes this effect to be reciprocal, with parenting error increasing infant negative affect, and this further undermining sensitivity.

    “(3) it is possible that the bi-directional nature of the caregiver-attachment system causes this effect to be reciprocal, with parenting error increasing infant negative affect, and this further undermining sensitivity.”
9 of 9

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Mothers with high basal or activation levels of cortisol were rated as more negative with their infants only if they failed to show RSA withdrawal in a challenge task.

    “In other work from our research group, mothers with high basal or activation levels of cortisol, indicating higher physiological stress reactivity, were rated as more negative with their infants only if they failed to show RSA withdrawal in a challenge task (Mills-Koonce et al., 2007), providing additional support that parents who can regulate their own physiological reactivity effectively may be”

    From Mother-infant vagal regulation in the face-to-face still-face paradigm is moderated by maternal sensitivity (2009) · cites this paper as Mills-Koonce et al., 2007

  • Parents who can regulate their own physiological reactivity effectively may be better able to respond in a sensitive and responsive manner to their infants.

    “providing additional support that parents who can regulate their own physiological reactivity effectively may be better able to respond in a sensitive and responsive manner to their infants.”

    From Mother-infant vagal regulation in the face-to-face still-face paradigm is moderated by maternal sensitivity (2009) · cites this paper as Mills-Koonce et al., 2007

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • ConsistentF(2, 423) = 21.27reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(2, 423) = 21.27,p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(2, 259) = 48.46reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(2, 259)=48.46,p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(2, 428) = 15.27reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(2, 428) =15.27, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(2, 367) = 6.19reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .002

    “F(2, 367) = 6.19, p < .01”

  • ConsistentF(2, 367) = 3.52reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .031

    “F(2, 367) = 3.52, p < .05”

  • ConsistentF(1, 350) = 10.79reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .001

    “F(1, 350) =10.79, p < .01”

  • ConsistentF(2, 350) = 5.88reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .003

    “F(2, 350) = 5.88, p < .01”

  • ConsistentF(2, 350) = 11.76reported p < .01 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(2, 350) =11.76, p < .01”

  • ConsistentF(2, 178) = 3.48reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .033

    “F(2, 178) = 3.48, p < .05”

  • ConsistentF(1, 25) = 5.05reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .034

    “F(1, 25) = 5.05, p < .05”

  • ConsistentF(2, 178) = 6.07reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .003

    “F(2, 178) = 6.07, p < .05”

11 of 11

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Opposite directions reported for the infant-negativity effect

    Minor

    The results state that infant negative affect was positively related to maternal sensitivity, but the discussion says interactions with high infant negative affect had lower maternal sensitivity. The reported direction of this central association is inconsistent.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Bowlby, 1969, Vol. 1
  2. Mills-Koonce, W. R., Gariépy, J.-L., Sutton, K., & Cox, M. (under review). Developmental trajectories of sensitive care for mothers of children with differing attachment strategies at 36 months.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Mills-Koonce, W. R., Gariépy, J.-L., Propper, C., Sutton, K., Calkins, S., Moore, G., & Cox, M.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Infant Behavior and Development
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-02
Volume
30
Issue
1
Pages
114-126
ISSN
0163-6383 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.infbeh.2006.11.010
OpenAlex
W2134479314
Semantic Scholar
0489d760fc41be16ff182f23f5233e5a42c2b4de
Cited by
366
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 13
FWCI
7.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Infant Behavior and Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (0126475)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
maternal sensitivity, infant negative affect, vagal withdrawal, attachment security, attachment avoidance, infant distress, mother-infant interaction, maternal physiology
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Personality Disorders, Psychological Tests, Stress, Psychological, Temperament, Parenting

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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