DEPRESSED MOTHERS TOUCHING INCREASES INFANTS POSITIVE AFFECT AND ATTENTION IN STILL-FACE INTERACTIONS

The effects of depressed mothers' touching on their infants' behavior were investigated during the still-face situation. 48 depressed and no ndepressed mothers and their 3-month-old infants were randomly assigne d to control and experimental conditions. 4 successive 90-sec periods were implemented: (A) normal play, (B) still-face-no-touch, (C) still- face-with-touch, and (A) normal play. Depressed and nondepressed mothe rs were instructed and shown how to provide touch for their infants du ring the still-face-with-touch period. Different affective and attenti ve responses of the infants of depressed versus the infants of nondepr essed mothers were observed. Infants of depressed mothers showed more positive affect (smiles and vocalizations) and gazed more at their mot hers' hands during the still-face-with-touch period than the infants o f nondepressed mothers, who grimaced, cried, and gazed away from their mothers' faces more often. The results suggest that by providing touc h stimulation for their infants, the depressed mothers can increase in fant positive affect and attention and, in this way, compensate for ne gative effects often resulting from their typical lack of affectivity (flat facial and vocal expressions) during interactions.