The Relationship of Parent-Child Interaction to the Effectiveness of Early Intervention Services for at-Risk Children and Children with Disabilities

Abstract

The results from four early intervention evaluation studies are described in relationship to their impact on parent-child interaction as measured by the Maternal Behavior Rating Scale. Intervention studies included the Infant Health and Development Program, the Longitudinal Studies of the Effects and Costs of Alternative Types of Early Intervention, the Play and Learning Strategies Program, and the Family-Centered Outcome study. Results from these analyses indicated that intervention effects on child development were unlikely to occur unless mothers modified their style of interacting with their children. Although these studies indicated that mothers of children who participated in intervention modified several different parameters of interactional style, only their level of responsiveness was positively associated with their children's developmental outcomes. These results are discussed in relationship to child-focused and relationship-focused models of early intervention.