Empathic and aversive responses to others among 16‐month‐olds: associations with maternal depressive and relational variables

Abstract

Mothers' depressive symptomatology and quality of relationships with other adults was related to the empathic behaviour of their 16‐month‐olds. Fifty‐four 16‐month‐olds (23 girls, 31 boys) watched videotapes of young children of the same gender and minority status expressing sad, happy, and neutral affect. Mothers completed self‐report measures of depressive symptomatology (Beck Depression Inventory) and quality of relationships with other adults. Infants of mothers who rated themselves as lower on comfort with closeness to other adults (one of the three quality of relationship subscales) were more likely to respond to the videotapes in a manner suggesting that they did not apprehend and/or take part in the actors' expressions of emotion. Infants of mothers who rated themselves higher on depressive symptoms displayed more aversive behaviours in response to sad stimuli. The findings are congruent with the assertion that infants' ability to understand and share the emotional experiences of others is influenced by their mothers' mental health and relationships with other adults.

Keywords:

• infancy
• mother/s
• psychosocial factors