Differences in maternal sensitivity responses according to child gender and temperament at 12 months old: A comparative study between Chile and USA

Abstract

Maternal sensitivity is the ability to perceive, interpret, and respond appropriately and conditionally to infant cues. This ability allows infants to feel senses of self-integration and self-worth as well as foster a loving, cooperative, and reciprocal response. Maternal sensitivity is a dyadic construct that is influenced by various adult and child factors. The current study analyzed the relationship between maternal sensitivity and both child temperament and gender across dyads from two countries: Chile and the USA. This study employed a cross-sectional design with a sample of 146 dyads. Children were evaluated at 12 months of age using the Adult Sensitivity Scale (ESA) and Rothbart’s Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Very Short Form (IBQ-R-VSF). The results revealed that American mothers showed greater total sensitivity and individual scale values than Chilean mothers. All mothers were more sensitive to their daughters than their sons, and no correlations with temperament were observed. A regression analysis revealed that infant gender and country of origin significantly predicted total sensitivity. The implications of the results are discussed. Keywords: Maternal sensitivity, early childhood, child gender, child temperament, crosscultural study