Mothers' postpartum sleep disturbance is associated with the ability to sustain sensitivity toward infants.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objective

Infancy is a period of rapid development when the quality of caregiving behavior may be particularly consequential for children's long-term functioning. During this critical period for caregiving behavior, parents experience changes in their sleep that may affect their ability to provide sensitive care. The current study investigated the association of mothers' sleep disturbance with both levels and trajectories of maternal sensitivity during interactions with their infants.

Methods

At 18 weeks postpartum, mothers and their infants were observed during a home-based 10-minute "free play" interaction. Mothers' nighttime sleep was objectively measured using actigraphy and subjectively measured using sleep diaries. Maternal sensitivity was coded in two-minut

SUBMITTER: King LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10173890 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature