title: A Longitudinal Examination of Physiological Regulation in Cocaine-Exposed Infants Across the First 7 Months of Life.
abstract: This study examined the association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and physiological regulation across the first 7 months of age. Measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were obtained from 169 (82 cocaine-exposed and 87 nonexposed) infants during baseline periods at 1 month and 7 months of age and during tasks designed to elicit positive and negative affect at 7 months of age. After controlling for maternal age, gestational age, and obstetrical risk, structural equation modeling indicated that the association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and baseline RSA at 7 months of age was direct even in the presence of an indirect effect through baseline RSA at 1 month of age. There were no indirect effects through maternal affect during mother-infant interactions assessed at 1 month of age. Analyses also indicated a direct association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and RSA regulation to negative affect at 7 months of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York College at Buffalo and Research Institute on Addictions Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schuetze
authors.forename: Rina D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Eiden
authors.forename: Ellen P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Edwards