C-SURF 2016: Emotional and Cognitive Predictors and Outcomes of Infant Sleep Quality at 3 Months of Age
Undergraduates: Archita Chandra, Marie Camerota
Faculty Advisor: Cathi Propper
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience
The current study examines associations between infant state, sleep quality, and future cognitive development. Differences in temperament and emotional reactivity may lead to changes in how children behave, learn, and interact with others. We see this early in life and it may already be affecting sleep quality, which may then lead to cognitive problems in later development. The sample consisted of 36 African-American mother-infant dyads. The current study hypotheses included (a) a negative correlation between distressed infant state and distressed infant vocalization with infant sleep duration; (b) a positive correlation between sleep duration at 3 months and cognition (assessed via the Bayley Scales of Development) at 6 months; and (c) a negative correlation between distressed infant state and vocalization at 3 months with 6 month cognition. Actigraphy was used to measure sleep quality, bedtime behavioral data were observed and coded to determine infant state, and the Bayley was administered to determine cognitive performance. No evidence was found for the hypothesized relationships in the current study, however we will present several potential limitations that may have contributed to these null findings. This project was made possible (in part) by support from the Office for Undergraduate Research at UNC-Chapel Hill.