title: The role of negative maternal affective states and infant temperament in early interactions between infants with cleft lip and their mothers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study examined the early interaction between mothers and their infants with cleft lip, assessing the role of maternal affective state and expressiveness and differences in infant temperament.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mother-infant interactions were assessed in 25 2-month-old infants with cleft lip and 25 age-matched healthy infants. Self-report and behavioral observations were used to assess maternal depressive symptoms and expressions. Mothers rated infant temperament.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants with cleft lip were less engaged and their mothers showed more difficulty in interaction than control group dyads. Mothers of infants with cleft lip displayed more negative affectivity, but did not report more self-rated depressive symptoms than control group mothers. No group differences were found in infant temperament.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to support the mother's experience and facilitate her ongoing parental role, findings highlight the importance of identifying maternal negative affectivity during early interactions, even when they seem have little awareness of their depressive symptoms.
authors: Centre for Study of Social Emotional Development of at Risk Infant, Scientific Institute E. Medea, Via don Luigi Monza, 20 - 23842 Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy. rosario.montirosso@bp.lnf.it
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Montirosso
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Fedeli
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Murray
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Morandi
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Brusati
authors: Guenda Ghezzi
authors: GG
authors: Perego
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Borgatti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D013694:Temperament