Measures of infant self-regulation during the first year of life: a systematic review
Pinto, Tiago Miguel
; Figueiredo, BárbaraArtigo de Jornal
This study aimed to systematically review the measures used to assess infant self-regulation during the first 12 months of life. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement protocol. From 235 selected papers, 79 provided information on behavioural and physiological measures to assess infant selfregulation during the first 12 months of life. Thirty-six behavioural (30 observational and 6 parent-report) and five physiological different measures were identified. Studies with a longitudinal design, comprising larger samples, and aiming to assess infant self-regulation later in infancy, mostly used behavioural measures than physiological measures. Studies comprising lower samples and aiming to assess infant self-regulation earlier in infancy, mostly used observational than parent-reported measures. Studies targeting younger infants used physiological measures and studies targeting older infants used behavioural measures, with observational measures used with younger infants and parental-reported measures used with older infants during the first year of life. When measuring self-regulation is important to consider infant's age, to fit the measurement procedures with the selfregulation development level.
Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology; Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science; European Regional Development Fund, Grant/Award Number: POCI01-0145-FEDER-007653; Fundação para a Ciência e a tecnologia, Grant/Award Numbers: SFRH/BD/115048/2016, PTDC/ SAU/SAP/116738/2010; Foundation for Science and Technology, Grant/Award Number: UIDB/05380/2020