Infant Temperament Contributes to Early Infant Growth: A Prospective Cohort of African American Infants [Open Access]

Slining, Meghan M.; Adair, Linda S.; Goldman, Barbara Davis; Borja, Judith B.; & Bentley, Margaret E. (2009). Infant Temperament Contributes to Early Infant Growth: A Prospective Cohort of African American Infants [Open Access]. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6, 51. PMCID: PMC2729723

Reference Type:
Journal Article

Secondary Title:

Series Title:

Author(s):
Slining, Meghan M.
Adair, Linda S.
Goldman, Barbara Davis
Borja, Judith B.
Bentley, Margaret E.

Editor(s):

Series Author(s):

Year Published:
2009

Date Published:

Journal Name:
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Volume Number:
6

Issue Number:

Start Page Number:
51

End Page Number:

Edition:

Series Volume:

Publisher:

City of Publication:

ISSN/ISBN:

DOI:
10.1186/1479-5868-6-51

PMCID:
PMC2729723

NIHMSID:

Reference ID:
4000

Miscellaneous:

Abstract:

Background:
Prospective studies linking infant temperament, or behavioral style, to infant body composition are lacking. In this longitudinal study (3 to 18 months), we seek to examine the associations between two dimensions of infant temperament (distress to limitations and activity level) and two anthropometric indicators (weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) and skin fold (SF) measures) in a population at high risk of overweight.
Methods:
Data are from the Infant Care and Risk of Obesity Project, a longitudinal study of North Carolina low income African American mother-infant dyads (n = 206). Two temperament dimensions were assessed using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. A high distress to limitations score denotes an infant whose mother perceives that s/he often cries or fusses, and a high activity level score one who moves his/her limbs and squirms frequently. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using ordinary least squares regression. Fixed effects longitudinal models were used to estimate anthropometric outcomes as a function of time varying infant temperament.
Results:
In longitudinal models, increased activity levels were associated with later decreased fatness and WLZ. In contrast, high levels of distress to limitations were associated with later increased fatness at all time points and later increased WLZ at 12 months.
Conclusion:
Infant temperament dimensions contribute to our understanding of the role of behavior in the development of the risk of overweight in the formative months of life. Identification of modifiable risk factors early in life may help target strategies for establishing healthy lifestyles prior to the onset of overweight.

Keyword(s):
Fertility, Families, and Children
Population Movement, Diversity, Inequality

URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-6-51

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Citation:

Slining, Meghan M.; Adair, Linda S.; Goldman, Barbara Davis; Borja, Judith B.; & Bentley, Margaret E. (2009). Infant Temperament Contributes to Early Infant Growth: A Prospective Cohort of African American Infants [Open Access]. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6, 51. PMCID: PMC2729723