Abstract
In a sample 110 Mexican origin infants (M = 7.24; SD = 2.06; range, 3.78
- 13.04) we examine the bidirectional covariation of mother and infant
positive and negative affect across the day. Further, we examine
maternal emotion regulation as a potential moderator of the linkage
between mother-infant affect, and infant-mother affect. Using an
Ecological Momentary Assessment design, mothers reported on their
positive and negative affect three times a day, for six days. Analyses
employed a multi-level modeling approach to examine moment-to-moment
covariation. Results indicated both mother and infant negative affect,
and mother and infant positive affect to significantly covary.
Interestingly, maternal emotional regulation did not moderate either the
covariation of negative or positive mother-infant affect. These analyses
represent one of the first examinations of daily covariation in
mother-infant dyadic affect.