Mom is Developing Too: Preliminary Evidence for the Reciprocal Effects of Infant Sensory Reactivity and Maternal Behavior

Authors

Emily C. Sweiss, Chapman University
Vincent Berardi, Chapman UniversityFollow
Elysia Poggi Davis, University of Denver
Curt A. Sandman, University of California, Irvine
Laura M. Glynn, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2-2026

Abstract

Caregiver sensitivity to infant cues is well-established as a predictor of child development. Infants also actively influence their social environment, especially their caregivers, even from their earliest days. Sensory reactivity, characterized as hypo- (under) and hyper- (over) responding to environmental stimuli, is one domain of development that is likely to influence caregiver-infant interaction, due to its role in regulating emotions and responses to both physical and social stimuli. Although sensory reactivity could be an important target for improving caregiver-child interaction, the longitudinal, reciprocal relations between infant sensory reactivity and caregiver behaviors are currently unknown. In the present proof-of-concept study, we examined these associations in a community sample of mother-infant dyads (N = 252) at infant ages 6 and 12 months using a cross-lagged panel modeling approach. Preliminary findings, which will benefit from replication using a validated measure of sensory reactivity, indicated that maternal sensitivity may decrease infant hyperreactivity, and infant hyporeactivity may be associated with increases in maternal sensitivity. Maternal intrusiveness appears to exacerbate infant hyperreactivity over time and attenuate later infant hyporeactivity. The results of this study provide preliminary evidence for the mutually influential nature of infant sensory reactivity and maternal behavior and signals the importance of future investigation of these concepts.

Comments

This article was originally published in Development and Psychopathology in 2026. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579425101090

Recommended Citation

Sweiss, E. C., Berardi, V., Davis, E. P., Sandman, C. A., & Glynn, L. M. (2026). Mom is developing too: Preliminary evidence for the reciprocal effects of infant sensory reactivity and maternal behavior. Development and Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579425101090

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The authors

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.