Maternal sensitivity behavior and infant behavior in early interaction

Abstract

Maternal sensitivity behavior and infant behavior in early interaction were investigated among 57 Finnish mother-child pairs. Their interaction was video-recorded at home in free-play situation when the infants were 3 months and 12 months of age, and evaluated using the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment Scale (PCERA). Maternal sensitivity behavior was mainly related to infant's positive aspects of mood, social and play behavior, and visual contact, both at 3 months and 12 months of age. Even though maternal sensitivity behavior correlated to infant behavior at 3 months and 12 months, infant behavior at 3 months of age contributed to later maternal sensitivity behavior.RESUMEN: La conducta de susceptibilidad materna y la conducta infantil en las interacciones tempranas fueron investigadas entre 57 padres de madres e infantes finlandeses. Sus interacciones fueron grabadas en vídeo en casa durante situaciones de juego libre cuando los infantes tenían tres y doce meses de edad, y fueron evaluadas usando la escala P.C.E.R.A. (que mide la temprana relación entre madre e infante). La conducta de susceptibilidad materna fue relacionada principalmente con los aspectos positivos del temperamento del infante, la conducta social y de juego, y el contacto visual, tanto a los tres como a los 12 meses de edad del infante. Aunque la conducta de susceptibilidad materna se correlacionó con la conducta del infante a los tres y doce meses, la conducta del infante a los tres meses contribuyó a la conducta de susceptibilidad materna posterior.

The Effect of Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Early Maternal Feeding Behavior on Later Infant Feeding Behavior

“…Findings were consistent with those of previous researchers who reported that maternal behavior during play at 3 months was associated with infant behavior at 12 months. 40 This study gives further support to the idea that early maternal behaviors are related to later infant behaviors. Specifically, this study demonstrated that the quality of maternal feeding behavior as early as prehospital discharge was related to the quality of infant feeding behavior at 4 months.…”

Video-feedback intervention in mother-baby dyads with depressive symptomatology and relationship difficulties

“…In this regard, there is consensus among researchers that the verbal and non-verbal communication process in the dyad contributes to the development of reciprocity, the exchange of information and feelings between both participants, and the quality of their bond (Trevarthen & Aitken, 2001). Thus, the caregiver's interactive skills are associated with the child's expression of affection and type of response, especially during the first years of life (Kivijarvi, Voeten, Niemela, Raiha, Lertola, & Piha, 2001).…”

Longitudinal relations of maternal supportiveness and child task-approach behavior to early cognitive development of children with developmental risks

“…Parent-child interaction behavior is commonly measured via observation during structured-or free-play situations in research on parent-child interaction (e.g., Croft, et al, 2001;Halpem, et al, 2001;KivijSrvi, et al, 2001;Owens, et al, 1998;Pauli-Pott, et al, 2000;Wijnroks, 1998). These studies have tried to capture multidimensional aspects of parent-child interaction behavior and have measured involvement, sensitive responsiveness (Kivijarvi, et al, 2001;NICHD ECCRN, 1999;Owens, et al, 1998;Wijnroks, 1998), positive aspects (Croft, et al, 2000;Kivijarvi, et al, 2001;NICHD ECCRN, 1999), and nonintrusiveness (NICHD ECCRN, 1999;Wijnroks, 1998).…”

“…Thus, mothers who respond sensitively to their children and who are emotionally available understand and support their children's cues appropriately, or in other words provide appropriate scaffolding for their children's development. These mothers are working within their children's zone of proximal development and providing environments that optimize their children's development (KivijSrvi, et al, 2001). When mothers sensitively support their infant's development, they provide scaffolding through their interactions (Bringen & Robinson, 1991).…”

“…Among these multiple dimensions of parentchild interaction behavior, some researchers have measured level of activity (Wijnroks, 1998), visual contact, social and play behavior (KivijBrvi, et al, 2001), play quality, verbal behavior, and reciprocal play behavior (Halpem, et al, 2001). However, in many studies, parent interactive behavior has been measured with involvement, sensitive responsiveness (KivijSrvi, et al, 2001;NICHD ECCRN, 1999;Owens, et al, 1998;Wijnroks, 1998), positive aspects (Croft, et al, 2000;Kivijarvi, et al, 2001;NICHD ECCRN, 1999), and nonintrusiveness (NICHD ECCRN, 1999;Wijnroks, 1998). …”