Abstract
Distress and self-regulation behaviors in 12-month-olds in coping the Strange Situation. The aim of this work was to study distress responses and self-regulation behaviors in 12-month-old infants, identifying both endogenous (temperament) as well as exogenous (adult availability) factors which can influence these behaviors. A modified version of the Strange Situation was administered so that children's behaviors were observed in different conditions: child alone, mother present, and experimenter present. While the frequency in using passive self-regulation strategies was positively correlated with the level of distress expressed by the infants, active strategies were negatively associated with distress. With respect to temperament influence, more fearful infants exhibited higher levels of distress as well as a more frequent use of passive strategies. Finally, adult presence facilitated a use of more autonomous strategies by the children.
