Ordinary Variations in Human Maternal Caregiving in Infancy and Biobehavioral Development in Early Childhood: A Follow-Up Study

Rodent models of early caregiving find that pups reared by dams providing low levels of early stimulation subsequently display heightened stress reactivity and social aggression We examined these effects in humans by investigating the effects of early caregiving on markets of biobehavioral development at ages 2 and 3 years This study extended the findings reported by Mire and Fox (Hate mid Fat 120061 Psychol Sci 17 550-556) in which 185 mothers and infants were observed and scared for variations in maternal caregiving behavior (MCB) at age 9 months Relative to young children who received high-quality MCB in infancy those who received late-quality MCB showed significantly higher socially inhibited behavior with adults, right frontal electroencephalographam (EEG) asymmetry. aggressive play, and maternal reported internalizing behavior problems and anger proneness These effects were independent of early temperamental reactivity Results parallel rodent models and demonstrate that ordinary variations in MCB influence stress reactivity and social behavior m young children (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc Dev Psychobiol 52 558-567, 2010