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Responses of free-ranging rhesus monkeys to a natural form of social separation. I. Parallels with mother-infant separation in captivity.

Observations of 23 free-ranging rhesus monkey infants on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, indicated that mothers' first postpartum estrous periods were marked by large increases in the amount of time infants were separated from their mothers, by disturbances in mother-infant relationships, and by increases in infant distress behavior. When their mothers resumed mating, most infants showed signs of agitation; a few briefly showed indications of depression. Male infants responded to their mothers' resumption of mating by playing more, whereas females engaged in less play and more allogrooming. The results suggest (a) that basic parallels exist between the behavioral responses of rhesus infants to their mothers' resumption of mating in the field and to forcible separation from their mothers in captivity and (b) that early separation experiences may play a role in the normal development or manifestation of sex differences in behavior.

Animals↗

Attachment of kibbutz infants to mother and metapelet.

122 children, born and reared on Israel kibbutzim, were observed in a cross-sectional study of infant attachment behaviors. Their reaction to either mother or metapelet (caretaker) separation and reunion was recorded over a 13-sequence experimental paradigm. Results indicated that children protested equally to either mother or metapelet separation when left with a stranger. Reunion behaviors seemed to be sensitive to the different attachment relationships the infant had with each caretaker, while separation behaviors were not. The quality of the infant-mother interactions as it is related to the infant's ordinal position had a significant effect on infant attachment behavior in the experimental situation. Firstborn (only) children were more anxious than later-borns during the session. Speculation as to the origin of these significant ordinal differences is discussed.

Female↗

The Newborn Behavioral Observations system as a nursing intervention to enhance engagement in first-time mothers: feasibility and desirability.

Engagement is the social process of maternal transition that enables growth and transformation and is linked to attachment and bonding. The feasibility and desirability of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system as a nursing intervention to enhance engagement in first-time mothers were examined. The NBO is an exploration of the newborn conducted with parents to increase their understanding of their infant's behavioral cues as well as how to respond. Perceptions of the NBO were obtained from mothers who participated in NBO sessions in the postpartum period and from unit nurses who had been given information on the NBO. Mothers (n= 10) rated the NBO high for increasing their knowledge of what their infants can do (m=3.7/4.0, SD=0.48), and how to interact with them (m=3.8/4.0, SD=0.63). Two of the activities of engagement, experiencing the infant and active participation in care, emerged as themes from the mothers' qualitative responses. Nurses (n=20) believed the NBO would be an effective intervention. Participants believed the NBO to be an effective nursing intervention for enhancing maternal engagement in the early postpartum period.

Adult↗

Behavior in cocaine-exposed infants and children: association versus causality.

The effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on infant and child development and behavior are uncertain. This ambiguity has been enhanced by the early nature of human research and suboptimal study designs. Methodological difficulty in this research, particularly in the consideration of confounding effects, has made it difficult to ascribe causal relationships. Future research must consider more precise measures of confounding.

Child Behavior Disorders↗

Cognitive development, temperament and behavior at 2 years as indicative of language development at 4 years in pre-term infants.

This study focuses on the early temperamental (TTQ = toddler temperament questionnaire), behavioral (IBR = infant behavior record), and cognitive precursors of impaired language functioning in preschool-age pre-terms infants. The study group consisted of 63 pre-term infants with a mean birth weight of 1246 +/- 437 g born in 1989-1991 in the University Central Hospital of Helsinki. Children with major disabilities (CP or mental retardation) were excluded. At the age of 4 years, 22% showed impaired language function. Logistic regression analysis showed that the Bayley MDI score was the best predictor in identifying an increased risk for language impairment. Behavioral characteristics were more strongly associated with subsequent language impairment than temperament.

Child, Preschool↗

Parent-offspring conflict theory, signaling of need, and weight gain in early life.

Human growth in early life has major implications for fitness. During this period, the mother regulates the growth of her offspring through placental nutrition and lactation. However, parent-offspring conflict theory predicts that offspring are selected to demand more resources than the mother is selected to provide. This general issue has prompted the development of begging theory, which attempts to find the optimal levels of offspring demand and parental provisioning. Several models have been proposed to account for begging behavior, whether by biochemical or behavioral pathways, including: (1) blackmail of parents; (2) scramble competition between multiple offspring; (3) honest signaling of nutritional need; and (4) honest signaling of offspring worth. These models are all supported by data from nonhuman animals, with species varying according to which model is relevant. This paper examines the evidence that human suckling and crying signal nutritional demand, need, and worth to the mother. While suckling provides hormonal stimulation of breast milk production and signals hunger, crying fulfills a different role, with evidence suggesting that it signals both worth and need for resources (nutrition and thermoregulation). The role of signaling in nutritional demand is examined in the context of three common health problems that have traditionally been assumed to have physiological rather than behavioral causes: excess weight gain, failure to thrive, and colic. The value of such an evolutionary approach lies in its potential to enhance behavioral management of these conditions.

Colic↗

Behavioral interaction of fathers with infants and mothers in the immediate postpartum period.

This study describes paternal behaviors of first-time fathers with their partner and newborn immediately after birth and identifies a progression of behaviors with the infant within the first 15 minutes after birth. Videotapes were made of 24 first-time fathers observed at birth a traditional delivery room setting. Utilizing an ethological approach to define behavioral codes, episodes of paternal behavior were measured with time interval sampling. Using a modified frequency method, behaviors were identified in four main categories: proximity, gaze, touch, and movement. The analysis showed that proximity and gaze were high-frequency behaviors and touch and movement were low-frequency behaviors. A progression of behaviors was identified, with gaze starting out high and diminishing, proximity and movement increasing over time, and touch remaining low but constant. Limitations of the setting and implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

Father-Child Relations↗

Positive geotaxis in infant rats (Rattus norvegicus): a natural behavior and a historical correction.

Infant rats (Rattus norvegicus) placed on a shallow incline (2 degrees, 4 degrees, or 8 degrees) oriented and moved downhill within 1 min; that is, they displayed positive geotaxis. Their downhill translocation increased with angle of inclination. A variety of possible behavioral elements (e.g., initial orientation, rotational movements, ambulatory velocities) were eliminated as explanations of the geotaxis. Wall contact was recognized as a determinative event: Pups on the inclines showed no orientation with respect to the geogravitational stimulus before contacting a wall. The event of wall contact, however, evoked reliable downhill orientation and more linear movements. Positive geotaxis was created by pups' orientation against walls and an associated increase in movement velocity. This is a distinct perspective on a behavioral response that replaces a traditionally misinterpreted phenomenon. The authors discuss the ecological validity and historical context of these findings.

Animals↗

[The baby retraction reaction evaluation in pediatric diseases: a validity study].

The evaluation of the withdrawal reaction in small children using a standardized instrument should take into account the child's psychopatologic context and its child's development moment. We present the BADS questionnaire validation by its application in 35 children aged 0 to 2 years-old with pediatric diseases, coming from Santa Casa de São Paulo. The results were compared with those of 90 normal children who were evaluated in a previous study of the same author. The test used was the independent t test, with mean scores of 5.90 +/- 2.57 for normal children and 6.37 +/- 4.83 for sick children, with p= 0,651 and significance level of 5%. Thus, it was observed that the withdrawal reaction in sick children is not significantly different for that for normal children. With these results, the scale shows its importance as a screening instrument.

Child Behavior Disorders↗

An observational study of object mouthing behavior by young children.

OBJECTIVE: Mouthing behavior in infants and young children <3 years old is a poorly quantified yet normal part of early childhood development. Increasingly, safety and risk assessments involving materials that may be mouthed depend on accurate estimates of oral contact time. This study reports the results of an observational study performed to investigate and obtain data on mouthing behavior of objects for children up to 3 years old. METHODOLOGY: The study used a standard diary form with instructions for participating parents to observe their child in a normal environment (primarily home), and to document both the type and duration of each item mouthed. Phase I (pilot) consisted of 30 children each observed for 1 day, divided equally between the ages of 0 to 18 months (n = 15) and 19 to 36 months (n = 15), whereas Phase II included more participants (n = 92 aged 0-18 months; n = 95 aged 19-36 months). Phase III included observations for 5 nonconsecutive days over a 2-month period on 168 children between the ages of 3 to 18 months (at study initiation), and focused on total mouthing time of objects, exclusive of pacifiers. RESULTS: The data collected during the first 2 phases were pooled and analyzed together. For all participants between the ages of 0 and 18 months (n = 107), the average daily duration of mouthing objects included: pacifiers (108 minutes), plastic toys (17 minutes), teethers (6 minutes), and other objects (9 minutes). The results for children 19 to 36 months old (n = 110) included: pacifiers (126 minutes), plastic toys (2 minutes), teethers (0 minutes), and other objects (2 minutes). Although no significant difference existed between the 2 age ranges for pacifier mouthing duration, a statistically significant difference was observed for nonpacifier objects. For Phase III, the average daily mouthing time for all objects (excluding pacifiers), based on 5 nonconsecutive days of observation for 168 children, was 36 minutes (n = 793 valid child observation days). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study indicate that mouthing behavior is dependent on age and the types of items that are mouthed. Duration of mouthing varies among children, with some consistently not mouthing any objects and with a very small number mouthing objects for >2 hours a day. The study also revealed wide variability in the types of objects mouthed, including many nontoy objects. Children mouth pacifiers significantly longer than other objects, regardless of age. Significantly increased mouthing time of all nonpacifier objects is reported for children in the 0- to 18-month range compared with the 19- to 36-month range.

Algorithms↗