Affective, cognitive, and physiological correlates of maternal sensitivity and children's outcomes in a Head Start sample

Study 1 investigated maternal affective, cognitive, and physiological correlates of sensitive parenting. Study 2 examined relationships between maternal variables and children's emotion knowledge and maladaptive and adaptive behavior outcomes. Participants were 94 mothers and their 3- to 5-year old children enrolled in a small, urban Head Start system. Maternal self-report measures, verbal ability, and observational measures of sensitive parenting and positive regard towards children were collected. Maternal understanding of the motivational properties of emotions was assessed through a measure of facilitative emotion intelligence (FEI). Changes in maternal respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), estimated by the high frequency band of maternal heart rate variability (HRV), were measured in response to sadness induction and recovery. Teacher ratings, independent classroom observer ratings, and emotion knowledge measures were collected on the children. Greater maternal RSA recovery after the sadness induction was related to less reported maternal personal distress in emotionally challenging situations. Positive parenting behaviors were predicted by less reported personal distress and higher use of perspective taking in emotionally challenging situations, higher maternal verbal ability, and higher FEI scores. Adaptive child outcomes were predicted by children's verbal ability, maternal positive regard and sensitivity, and maternal FEI scores.