title: A longitudinal examination of verbal reassurance during infant immunization: occurrence and examination of emotional availability as a potential moderator*.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the associations between caregiver verbal reassurance and infant pain-related distress during immunization over the first year of life. The relationships between verbal reassurance and caregiver emotional availability (EA) were also examined. Finally, EA was investigated as a moderator of the relationship between verbal reassurance and infant pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 606 infants (and their parents) at 4 different ages (n = 376 at 2 months, n = 455 at 4 months, n = 484 at 6 months, and n = 407 at 12 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Verbal reassurance was positively associated with infant distress across all four ages. EA was only negatively related to verbal reassurance at 12 months of age. EA was not a significant moderator at any age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings demonstrate consistent but small relationships between verbal reassurance and infant pain over the first year of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M3J 1P3. rpr@yorku.ca
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Rebecca R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pillai Riddell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flora
authors.forename: Hartley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Garfield
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*