Maternal alexithymic traits, prenatal stress, and infant temperament

• We investigated the impact of maternal alexithymic traits on infant temperament.
• Maternal “Difficulty in Identifying Feelings” predicted infant “Duration of Orienting”.
• The finding was not explained by maternal depression or anxiety.

We aimed at investigating, whether maternal alexithymia or prenatal anxiety influences infant temperament (Infant Temperament Questionnaire, IBQ) at six months. Maternal alexithymic trait of “Difficulty in Identifying Feelings” predicted higher infant “Duration of Orienting”. “Fear of Bearing a Handicapped Child” predicted lower infant “Activity Level”.