Development of negative and positive emotionality in irritable and nonirritable neonates

ABSTRACT

Objective

The current study compares the development of negative and positive emotionality of irritable and nonirritable neonates.

Background

Research indicates that the first few months of life are marked by decreases in negative emotionality and increases in positive emotionality.

Methods

The Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) was administered twice to 111 neonates at 3 and 4 weeks of age to select a sample of irritable neonates and a comparison group of nonirritable neonates. Mothers completed assessments of negative and positive emotionality at 1, 2, 4, and 9 months of age.

Results

Both irritable and nonirritable neonates demonstrate a significant decrease in frustration and a significant increase in positive emotionality from 2 to 4 months of age. Irritable neonates also demonstrate a significant decrease in negative emotionality from 4 to 9 months of age. Both irritable and nonirritable neonates demonstrate considerable stability in negative and positive emotionality.

Conclusion

Implications of these results for parent education and early intervention are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Neonatal irritability
• negative emotionality
• frustration
• positive emotionality
• infant temperament

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Policy and ethics

The research was conducted in accordance with APA ethical standards. The Institutional Review Board at the University of Iowa approved the research in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The research presented in this manuscript was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD R03 HD037232).