Prenatal origins of temperamental reactivity in early infancy.
BACKGROUND
Temperament theory has long considered individual differences in reactivity and regulation to be present at birth. Recent evidence suggests that such differences may be present prenatally and moderated by maternal emotionality.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether induced maternal emotional activation generates a fetal response and whether observed fetal responsivity is associated with early infant temperament.


METHODS
Women viewed an emotionally evocative labor and delivery documentary at 32 weeks gestation while physiological indices were evaluated and their infant's temperament was assessed at 6 weeks postnatal age.


METHODS
Participants were 137 pregnant women and their infants.


METHODS
Maternal physiological (heart rate and skin conductance) and fetal neurobehavioral (heart rate and motor activity) data were collected during gestation in response to the stimulus. Infant temperament (irritability and consolability) data were based on observational methods after birth.


RESULTS
Fetuses reacted to maternal viewing of the video with decreased heart rate variability, fewer motor bouts, and decreased motor activity. There was correspondence between the nature of individual maternal physiological responses to the full video, as well as phasic responses to a graphic birth scene, and fetal responsivity. Fetuses that reacted more intensively to maternal stimulation were significantly more likely to become infants that demonstrated greater irritability during a developmental examination at 6 weeks of age.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the presumption that early postnatal temperamental characteristics emerge during the prenatal period.
DiPietro
Janet A
JA
Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., E4531, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. jdipietr@jhsph.edu
Ghera
Melissa M
MM
Costigan
Kathleen A
KA
D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000523:psychology; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*