Acculturation of maternal responses to infant distress among three groups of immigrant families to the United States

Human infants express vocal distress to signal needs to be met by a caregiver. Maternal responses to infant distress are influenced by biological constraints and shaped by cultural practices. This study used a culture learning perspective to investigate the ways immigrant mothers' responsiveness to their infants' vocal distress is modified by acculturation. Methodologically, group-level acculturation was assessed by comparing immigrant Japanese, South Korean and South American dyads with nonmigrant dyads in their respective cultures of origin (Japan, South Korea and Argentina) and destination (United States); immigrant mothers were also compared with each other. Altogether, 408 mothers and their 5½-month-old infants were videorecorded in the naturalistic setting of the home. The frequencies and odds ratios for five maternal responses to infant distress (distract, hold, nurture, speak, affection) were computed using sequential analysis and then compared. Patterns of acculturation at the group level proved to be specific to each cultural group. Comparisons among the immigrant samples revealed differences for most responses. These results support the specificity principle in acculturation for maternal responsiveness to infant distress. This article is part of the theme issue 'Mechanisms of learning from social interaction'.