Perception of Emotional Expression and Play
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mothers' and Infant's Perception of Emotional Expressions and Play
IRAS ID
192426
Contact name
Rebecca Webb
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City University London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 11 days
Research summary
The way in which we unconsciously process other peoples’ emotions can affect how we respond and interact. This is particularly relevant to mothers and babies in the first few months after birth when the way in which they respond to each other is critical in establishing patterns of play. Research into postnatal depression suggests mothers with postnatal depression are less sensitive to their baby’s state and this affects the way mums and babies interact in a number of ways. One factor that has not been explored is the potential impact of a traumatic birth on this interaction. We have developed a theory of the ways in which traumatic birth and mental health might impact on how mothers and babies interact. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to assess to what extent a difficult or traumatic birth may impact on a mother’s interpretation of infant emotional expressions and mother-infant interaction during play. Three groups of women will be recruited:(1) postnatal women who experienced a traumatic birth and have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of this. This group of women may also be suffering from anxiety and/or depression, as these mental illnesses are often comorbid; (2) postnatal women who do not have mental health difficulties, and (3) women who have never been pregnant. Inclusion criteria are that women are over 18 and for postnatal women that their baby is between 3 and 6 months of age. Approximately 168 women will be recruited and eligible women will be asked to complete five lab-based studies that will assess a range of mother and infant outcomes. These are (1) women’s perceptions of emotions, (2) how easily women can ignore different emotions, (3) naturalistic attention to emotions through eye-tracking, (4) babies naturalistic attention to different emotions, and (5) mother and baby play.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0605
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion