Biological and environmental initial conditions shape the trajectories of cognitive and social-emotional development across the first years of life.
Human development is thought to evolve from the dynamic interchange of biological dispositions and environmental provisions; yet the effects of specific biological and environmental birth conditions on the trajectories of cognitive and social-emotional growth have rarely been studied. We observed 126 children at six time-points from birth to 5 years. Intelligence, maternal sensitivity, and child social engagement were repeatedly tested. Effects of neonatal vagal tone (VT) and maternal postpartum depressive symptoms on growth-rates were assessed. Cognitive development showed a substantial growth-spurt between 2 and 5 years and social engagement increased rapidly across the first year and more gradually thereafter. VT improved cognitive and social-emotional growth-rates across the first year, whereas maternal depressive symptoms interfered with growth from 2 to 5 years. Differences between infants with none, one, or two non-optimal birth conditions increased with age. Findings shed light on the dynamics of early development as it is shaped by biological and environmental initial conditions.
Feldman
Ruth
R
Department of Psychology and the Gonda Brain Sciences Center, Bar-Ilan University, Israel. feldman@mail.biu.ac.il
Eidelman
Arthur I
AI
D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012922:Social Change; D012931:Social Environment