Relationship between neurobehaviours of Chinese neonates and early mother–infant interaction

Abstract

This study examined the relations between newborn neurobehavioural profiles, and the characteristics of early mother–infant interaction, in Chengdu, China. The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) was administered to healthy, full‐term newborns at a mean age of 3 days, and the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS) was used at 1 month to characterize mother–infant interaction. The NBAS peak of excitement item was correlated with the NCATS caregiver subscale score, and the NBAS autonomic startles item was correlated with the NCATS child subscale scores. NBAS peak of excitement and startles accounted for 34% of the variance of the NCATS caregiver score, and the NBAS autonomic stability items (tremulousness, startles, and lability of skin colour) predicted 42% of the variance in the NCATS child score. Maternal age, education, family income, and perceived stress were not associated with NCATS caregiver, child and total scores. Maternal nurturing behaviours did not differ between one‐child families with boys or girls in this urban Chinese sample. Results suggest that in this Chinese sample, indicators of newborns' autonomic stability and intensity of response to stimulation were predictive of early mother–infant interaction. Implications of the lack of association between infant and maternal demographic factors and mother–child interaction are discussed.