Abstract
Twenty-four newborns (M age = 12 days) of depressed and nondepressed mothers were assessed for oral perception of a nubby and smooth texture. Both groups of newborns discriminated between these textures and showed a sucking preference for the smooth texture. However, the newborns of depressed mothers spent 50% less time orally exploring the stimuli, one-third less time exploring the more novel nubby texture, and 59% less time mouthing the smooth texture. Newborns of depressed mothers may have biological differences that affect their emotional arousal and emotional regulation (e.g., capacity for self-soothing).
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 204-210 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Infant Mental Health Journal |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
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Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Del Pino, N., & Diego, M. (2000). Less exploring by mouth occurs in newborns of depressed mothers. Infant Mental Health Journal, 21(3), 204-210. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0355(200007)21:3<204::AID-IMHJ5>3.0.CO;2-K