Joint attention: comparative analyses between dyads of depressed and non-depressed mothers and their babies

• Grant number: 14/23137-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Experimental Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Karina Santos
• Grantee: Catalina Bergues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psicologia (IP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims at analyzing joint attention, comparing groups of mothers with and without postpartum depression and their babies who are, on average, 4 months old. We will observe: frequency and duration of the episodes, and the contingencies in which the visual interactions occur (who initiates the visual contact, who breaks it, among others). With this purpose, we will analyze 50 videos in the context of free play between mothers and their babies, in face-to-face interactions. It will be done a quantitative analysis of the results, but, if cases that stands out from the average results are found, it could lead to a qualitative analysis. We expect that this project will contribute with the understanding of factors related to joint attention and to child development in the context of postpartum depression.