Longitudinal links between maternal factors and infant cognition: Moderation by infant sleep

Marie Camerota, Noa Gueron-Sela, Melissa Grimes, Cathi B. Propper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current study examined the moderating role of infant sleep in the link between maternal factors (i.e., maternal education, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance) and infant cognition. Data come from 95 African American parent–child dyads. At 3 months of age, infant sleep was objectively measured using videosomnography and actigraphy, from which measures of sleep regulation and consolidation were calculated. Mothers also self-reported their level of education, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality. At 6 months of age, infants completed cognitive assessments, including a measure of general cognitive ability and observed attention behavior. Findings revealed that infant sleep quality interacted with maternal education and sleep disturbances to predict cognition. Specifically, the link between maternal education and infants’ attention behavior was significant and positive for infants with better regulated sleep, but not for infants with poorly regulated sleep. Similarly, the link between maternal sleep disturbance and infant cognition depended on infant sleep quality. For infants with poorer sleep consolidation, increased maternal sleep disturbance predicted poorer infant general cognitive ability. For infants with better sleep consolidation, maternal sleep disturbance was positively related to both general cognitive ability and attention behavior. These findings suggest that infant sleep quality moderates the impact of environmental factors on cognitive functioning.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)128-150
Number of pages23
JournalInfancy
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2020

Keywords

  • cognition
  • infant sleep
  • maternal depressive symptoms
  • maternal education
  • maternal sleep quality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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