This study was designed to examine the influence of a ‘high risk’ group and a ‘low risk’ group of 150 mothers, with ages varying between 17-25 years, living in The Netherlands and self-regulation...Show moreThis study was designed to examine the influence of a ‘high risk’ group and a ‘low risk’ group of 150 mothers, with ages varying between 17-25 years, living in The Netherlands and self-regulation and emotional reactivity from babies at six months old. Also the influence of physical problems, substance use, single parenting, unemployment, no high school education, financial problems and / or poor social support on the score of self-regulation and emotional reactivity is examined. The relations and effects on self-regulation and emotional reactivity have been tested through t-tests, Repeated Measures ANOVA and regression analyses. The data that has been used for this study are from a longitudinal study by Leiden University ‘Een Goed Begin’. Results show no significant difference between high- and low risk mothers on the self-regulation and emotional reactivity of the babies at the age of 6 months. Drug abuse, single parenting and no secondary education are significantly related to the scores of babies looking at their mothers, which is a part of self-regulation. There is no significant relation between self soothing behavior and arching and squirming as a part of emotional reactivity and the risk factors. Also no significant difference is found between positive affect and negative affect as a part of self-regulation and high or low risk mothers. Further research has to find out if there is a relationship between mothers behavior and self-regulation and emotional reactivity of babies.Show less
