Dyadic parent-infant interaction patterns at 12 months: Exploring dyadic parent-infant gender compositions.

Abstract

This study investigates differences in dyadic mother–infant and father–infant interaction patterns at infant age 12 months, and the relation between different parent–infant gender compositions and the dyadic interaction. Data were drawn from a large‐scale, population‐based Norwegian community sample comprising 671 mother–infant and 337 father–infant interactions. The Early Relational Health Screen (ERHS), a screening method for observing dyadic parent–infant interactions, was used to assess the parent–infant interactions. Scores on the ERHS were employed to investigate dyadic differences in the overall interaction scores, and dyadic interaction on seven sub‐dimensions between mother–infant and father–infant pairs. The relation between different parent–infant gender compositions and the dyadic interaction scores was also examined. As expected in a normative sample, most parent–infant interactions received scores in the upper rating levels. Differences between mother–infant and father–infant patterns were generally small, but mother–infant dyads tended to obtain slightly higher scores. The mother–infant dyads received higher scores on the dimensions of engagement and enjoyment, but no other significant differences between the parent–infant pairs were found for the remaining dimensions. We did not find evidence for a moderation effect of child gender. However, parent–daughter dyads received somewhat higher scores than the parent–son dyads.