A Longitudinal Examination of Physiological Regulation in Cocaine‐Exposed Infants Across the First 7 Months of Life |
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| Authors: | Pamela Schuetze Rina D. Eiden Ellen P. Edwards |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology State University of New York College at Buffalo and Research Institute on Addictions Department of Pediatrics University at Buffalo;2. Research Institute on Addictions and Departments of Psychology and Pediatrics University at Buffalo;3. Research Institute on Addictions University at Buffalo |
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| Abstract: | This study examined the association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and physiological regulation across the first 7 months of age. Measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were obtained from 169 (82 cocaine‐exposed and 87 nonexposed) infants during baseline periods at 1 month and 7 months of age and during tasks designed to elicit positive and negative affect at 7 months of age. After controlling for maternal age, gestational age, and obstetrical risk, structural equation modeling indicated that the association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and baseline RSA at 7 months of age was direct even in the presence of an indirect effect through baseline RSA at 1 month of age. There were no indirect effects through maternal affect during mother‐infant interactions assessed at 1 month of age. Analyses also indicated a direct association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and RSA regulation to negative affect at 7 months of age. |
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