# An Exploration of the Domain-Specificity of Maternal Sensitivity in the Infancy Period: Unique Paths to Child Outcomes

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $42,959

## Abstract

Project Summary
Decades of research have documented associations between higher levels of maternal sensitivity during early
childhood and adaptive child outcomes.1 Sensitivity has typically been conceptualized and measured in a
broad and non-specific manner, with the underlying assumption that mothers’ sensitivity is stable across
interaction contexts.2 Recent research, however, has suggested that sensitivity is a domain-specific construct,
and that mothers differ in their provision of sensitive caregiving when their child is distressed versus during
times of calm.5 Specifically, maternal sensitivity to distress (SD) and non-distress (SND) appear to be
correlated, independent constructs, with unique predictors and differential links to child outcomes. The overall
goal of the current project is to rigorously test the specificity of maternal SD and SND as they relate to early
childhood outcomes, using a longitudinal sample of low-income mothers and infants. The specific aims are: 1)
to test associations between maternal SD and SND and later child outcomes, with the hypothesis that SD will
uniquely predict child social-emotional development, and SND will uniquely predict cognitive development; 2)
to test predictors of maternal SD and SND, with the hypothesis that maternal cognitive-affective responses to
distress will uniquely predict SD, and that traditional familial demographic risk will predict SND; and 3) to test
whether maternal SD and SND mediate associations between their respective predictors and child outcomes,
and to test the moderating role of high child negative emotionality on associations related to SD. This project,
and the associated 18-month training grant taking place at the University of Pittsburgh, will provide crucial,
targeted training necessary for the applicant to become an impactful, independent researcher in the area of
early parenting and child development from birth through early childhood. The program of training will focus on
building the applicant’s proficiency in four key areas. Specifically, the applicant will 1) deepen her knowledge of
infant development, with guided reading and regular mentorship meetings; 2) develop expertise in
observational measurement and coding of parental sensitivity by learning coding protocols and leading a
sensitivity coding team; 3) increase her proficiency in applying advanced data analytic techniques for analyzing
change over time in large datasets thorough coursework and individualized mentorship by a quantitative
expert; and, 4) increase her exposure to the process and differences of parenting practices among varied
cultural groups through interactions with researchers and clinical staff at NYU who are conducting
implementations of parenting interventions in New York City. Results of the proposed project should have
significant implications for the measurement and conceptualization of maternal sensitivity, as well as for
interventions targeting caregiving quality. This work addresses ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9992203
- **Project number:** 1F31HD102162-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Lindsay Taraban
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $42,959
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2022-06-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9992203

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9992203, An Exploration of the Domain-Specificity of Maternal Sensitivity in the Infancy Period: Unique Paths to Child Outcomes (1F31HD102162-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9992203. Licensed CC0.

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