Marital aggression predicts infant orienting toward mother at six months

Links between marital aggression and infant orienting toward mother in fearful and frustrating contexts were examined in 92 mother–infant dyads when infants were six months. Results demonstrated that marital aggression was linked with less orienting toward mothers in frustrating situations, in fearful situations marital aggression was linked with less orienting among infants who were high on fear reactivity only.

Research highlights▶ Marital aggression negatively associated with orienting to mother during frustration. ▶ Fear reactivity moderates association between aggression and orienting during fear. ▶ Exposure to conflict does not moderate associations between aggression and orienting.