Coping behaviors during interactive stress in preterm and full-term infants

Coping behaviors of sixteen nondevelopmentally delayed preterm infants and twenty full-term infants were compared as infants interacted with their mothers, who remained still-faced and unresponsive. The 2-minute still-face interaction was videotaped, and infant behaviors were later coded each second using a slow motion video deck. Coping behaviors involved measures of visual attention to the mother and the surroundings and self comforting behaviors. Preterm and full-term infants did not differ in coping behaviors or in overall level of distress. In addition, groups did not differ in Bayley Mental and Psychomotor Development Indexes or in Infant Behavior Record factor scores for Task Orientation, Task Affect-Extraversion, or Activity (Matheny, 1983). However, perterm infants demonstrated significantly poorer motor coordination. The relationship between coping behaviors and infant and maternal characteristics was examined for preterm infants, for full-term infants, and for all infants included in analyses of coping behaviors. Longer average episode lengths of visual scanning and/or greater total time scanning during the still-face procedure were positively correlated with variables usually associated with more optimal functioning including more advance mental and motor functioning, greater task orientation, more positive affect, and smoother motor coordination. For preterm infants, greater total time focusing on objects during the still-face procedure was associated with a less task-oriented approach during administration of the Bayley.