Infant distress at five weeks of age and caregiver frustration.

Abstract

To investigate the differential association of three modes (fussing, crying, unsoothable crying) and three properties (duration/day, frequency/day, maximum bout length) of infant distress with daily caregiver frustration. Replicated cross-sectional studies were completed in Vancouver, British Columbia (n = 1065) and Seattle, Washington (n = 1857). Infant fussing, crying, and unsoothable crying and caregiver frustration were measured daily for 4 days at 5 weeks of age by the Baby's Day Diary. Generalized estimating equation models were used to predict caregiver frustration from nine measurements of distress. In Vancouver, measurements of distress significantly associated with caregiver frustration in decreasing order of magnitude were as follow: (1) maximum bout length of unsoothable crying; (2) duration/day of crying; and (3) frequency of unsoothable crying and duration/day of fussing. In Seattle, associated measurements of distress were: (1) maximum bout length of unsoothable crying; (2) maximum bout length and duration/day of crying, frequency of unsoothable crying, and duration/day of fussing; and (3) frequency/day of crying. Daily caregiver frustration is associated differentially with different modes and properties of infant distress. Specifically, maximum bout length of unsoothable crying was most strongly related in both sites. Additionally, frequency/day of unsoothable crying and duration/day of crying and of fussing were significantly associated at both sites.