Mother-infant Play Interactions Research Articles

Cross-cultural differences in early caregiving: levels of mind-mindedness and instruction in UK and India

IntroductionMost studies on parenting and its role in child development are conducted in Western countries, but it cannot be assumed that characteristics of parental practices are similar in non-Western settings. Research characterizing cultural differences in parenting is required to inform the focus of studies designed to test differential outcomes from such practices in children over time and across cultures. The present cross-cultural study examined differences in maternal speech during mother–child interactions, and, specifically, in the use of mind-mindedness, instruction and control, and the expression of warmth (i.e., positive comments).MethodsWe observed 100 dyads (50 from the UK and 50 from India) during mother-infant play interactions at 7 months. Maternal speech was transcribed and translated prior to independent coding, and this was coded using established measures together with a newly developed measure of “Instructions”.ResultsSubstantially large differences between UK and Indian mothers were observed. Compared with UK mothers, Indian mothers made fewer mind-minded comments about their infants, and they issued more instructions and made more controlling and positive comments. Findings from this study might reflect cultural differences in how parental style might be expressed according to cultural priorities and values.ConclusionsThe implications of these very large differences in parenting across cultures for child development remain to be investigated and are discussed in the present paper.

Father-child play: A systematic review of its frequency, characteristics and potential impact on children’s development

Parent-child play interactions in the first years of life are linked to more positive cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes for children. The vast majority of previous research has focussed on mother-infant play interactions, but the potential positive role of fathers’ early involvement in children’s lives is being increasingly recognised, with higher levels of caregiving by fathers in many countries. To characterise the nature and potential impact of father-child play we undertook a systematic review of the published literature in psychological and educational databases up until 2018. We focussed on studies addressing the frequency and characteristics of fathers’ play with children (aged 0–3 years), and the potential impact on children’s development. We screened 436 articles, yielding 78 papers addressing the questions of interest. There are 3 key findings. First, fathers spend a significant proportion of their time with their children engaging in playful interactions, often in the form of physical play such as rough and tumble. Second, whilst findings are mixed, on balance the evidence suggests that fathers’ play frequency increases from infancy to preschool age with a subsequent decline in play as children reach early- middle childhood. Third, studies investigating links between fathers’ play and child outcomes suggest that fathers’ play in the early years can positively contribute to children’s social, emotional and cognitive outcomes. This potential for substantial benefit for children provides a clear imperative for policy makers and practitioners to facilitate and support fathers, as well as mothers, in developing more positive and playful interactions with their infants.

Social-emotional functioning in planned lesbian families: does biological versus non-biological mother status matter? An Italian pilot study

ABSTRACTTo date, few studies have investigated the social-emotional functioning of planned lesbian families, wherein only one parent is the biological mother of the child. We examined if being a biological versus non-biological mother plays a role in planned lesbian couple functioning and mother-infant play interactions. The present study analyzes the attachment state of mind, couple alliance, parenting stress, and emotional availability in a sample of 40 mothers (20 biological and 20 non-biological). The results showed that mothers’ life-long attachment experiences and related mental states of mind, rather than biological relatedness between the parent and child, matter in a mother and child’s emotional involvement in parent-child interaction. Furthermore, the results confirmed the different impact of the perceived quality of the couple alliance on biological and non-biological mothers. The findings obtained elucidated what counts in this new family typology, and constitute a heuristic solicitation for future studies to better understand the key factors and mechanisms implied in social-emotional functioning.

Does early object exploration support gesture and language development in extremely preterm infants and full-term infants?

BackgroundAn increasing body of research on typically and atypically developing infants has shown that motor skills play an important role in language development. To date, however, the role of specific object exploration skills for early gesture and vocabulary development has not been investigated in extremely low gestational age infants (ELGA, GA < 28 weeks), who are at greater risk for motor and language delays than full-term (FT) infants. PurposeThis longitudinal study examined relations between 6-month active exploratory behaviors and 12- month word comprehension, gestures and vocal production, controlling for cognitive performance and neonatal condition (ELGA vs FT). MethodsForty infants, 20 ELGA and 20 FT, and their mothers participated in the study. Mother-infant play interaction was video-recorded at 6 and 12 months. Oral and manual object exploration at 6 months and spontaneous gestures and vocal production at 12 months were coded. Word comprehension was evaluated with the Italian version of the MacArthur-Bates CDI parent questionnaire at 12 months. Cognitive performance was examined with the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales at 6 months and the Bayley-III Scales at 12 months. ResultsRegression analyses showed that after accounting for cognitive performance and neonatal condition, oral exploration was related to word comprehension, and manual exploration to gestures and vocal production in the overall sample. ConclusionsCascading effects of specific object exploration skills on gestures and language comprehension and production in preterm infants and FT infants are discussed. Clinical implications for early assessment of and interventions involving object exploration skills, which may affect language development, are considered for the preterm population.

Object exploration in extremely preterm infants between 6 and 9 months and relation to cognitive and language development at 24 months

Although early object exploration is considered a key ability for subsequent achievements, very few studies have analyzed its development in extremely low gestational age infants (ELGA- GA <28 weeks), whose early motor skills are delayed. Moreover, no studies have examined its developmental relationship with cognitive and language skills. The present study examined developmental change in Motor Object Exploration (MOE) and different types of MOE (Holding, Oral, Manual and Manual Rhythmic Exploration) in 20 ELGA and 20 full term (FT) infants observed during mother-infant play interaction at 6 and 9 months. It also explored whether specific types of MOE were longitudinally related to 24-month language and cognitive abilities (GMDS-R scores). ELGA infants increased MOE duration from 6 to 9 months, eliminating the initial difference with FT infants. In addition, ELGA infants showed a different pattern of Oral Exploration, that did not increase at 6 months and decrease at 9 months. Oral and Manual Exploration durations at 6 months were longitudinally related to 24-month GMDS-R language and cognitive performance scores respectively. We discuss the relevance of assessing early exploratory abilities in ELGA infants in order to implement customized intervention programs for supporting the development of these skills.

Natural variation in maternal sensitivity is reflected in maternal brain responses to infant stimuli.

Increasing evidence suggests that discrete neural networks that mediate emotion processing are activated when mothers respond to infant's images or cries. Accumulating data also indicate that natural variation in maternal caregiving behavior is related to maternal oxytocin (OT) levels. However, brain activation to infant cues has not been studied comparing mothers at disparate ends of the "maternal sensitivity" spectrum. Based on observed mother-infant play interaction at 4-6 months postpartum in 80 antenatally recruited mothers, 15 mothers with the highest sensitivity (HSMs) and 15 mothers with the lowest sensitivity (LSMs) were followed at 7-9 months using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain responses to viewing videos of their "own" versus an "unknown" infant in 3 affect states (neutral, happy, and sad). Plasma OT measurements were taken from mothers following play interactions with their infant. Compared with LSMs, HSMs showed significantly greater brain activation in right superior temporal gyrus (STG) in response to own versus unknown neutral infant and to own happy versus neutral control. Changes in brain activation were significantly negatively correlated with plasma OT responses in HSMs mothers. Conversely, compared with HSMs, LSMs showed no significant activation difference in response to own infant separately or in contrast to unknown infant. Activation of STG may index sensitive maternal response to own infant stimuli. Sensitive parenting may have its unique profile in relation to brain responses which can act as biomarkers for future intervention studies that enhance sensitivity of maternal care. (PsycINFO Database Record

Object engagement and manipulation in extremely preterm and full term infants at 6 months of age

Delays in the motor domain have been frequently observed in preterm children, especially those born at an extremely low gestational age (ELGA;<28 weeks GA). However, early motor exploration has received relatively little attention despite its relevance for object knowledge and its impact on cognitive and language development. The present study aimed at comparing early object exploration in 20 ELGA and 20 full-term (FT) infants at 6 months of age during a 5-minute mother-infant play interaction. Object engagement (visual vs manual), visual object engagement (no act vs reach), manual object engagement (passive vs active), and active object manipulation (mouthing, transferring, banging, turn/rotating, shaking, fingering) were analyzed. Moreover, the Griffiths Mental Development Scales 0-2 years (1996) were administered to the infants. Relative to FT peers, ELGA infants spent more time in visual engagement, and less time in manual engagement, active manipulation, mouthing, and turning/rotating. Moreover, they had lower scores on general psychomotor development, eye & hand coordination, and performance abilities. Close relationships emerged between manual object engagement and psychomotor development. Clinical implications of these results in terms of early evaluation of action schemes in ELGA infants and the provision of intervention programs for supporting these abilities are discussed.

Longitudinal mediators of social problem solving in spina bifida and typical development.

The current study examined the role of early executive functions (EF) and social language (SL) as well as responsive parenting as mediators of the effect of group on social problem-solving skills at 7 years of age for children with spina bifida and typically developing children. A mediation analysis was used to determine if the effect of having spina bifida on school age social problem-solving skills was mediated through the effect of group on EF/SL at 3 years of age and responsive parenting at 12 and 18 months. As part of a larger longitudinal study, 103 infants (n = 49 with spina bifida; n = 54 typically developing) received measures of EF/SL at 3 years of age and mother-infant play interactions at 12 and 18 months of age were coded for a range of responsive parenting behaviors. Social problem-solving skills were measured with a game-like observational task at 7 years of age. Group had a direct relation with later social problem-solving as well as an indirect relation through early EF/SL skills that, in turn, had a direct relation with later social problem solving. An indirect effect of responsive parenting on later social skills also was found through a direct effect on EF/SL skills. Early precursors of school age difficulties with social problem solving observed for children with spina bifida can be explained, in part, by difficulties in the first 3 years of life with EF/SL. Early responsive parenting appears to positively affect the development of these EF/SL skills. Implications for early intervention are an outcome of this study.

Quality of attachment, perinatal risk, and mother-infant interaction in a high-risk premature sample.

Thirty-three families, each with a premature infant born less than 33 gestational weeks, were observed in a longitudinal exploratory study. Infants were recruited in a neonatal intensive care unit, and follow-up visits took place at 4 months and 12 months of corrected age. The severity of the perinatal problems was evaluated using the Perinatal Risk Inventory (PERI; A.P. Scheiner & M.E. Sexton, 1991). At 4 months, mother-infant play interaction was observed and coded according to the CARE-index (P.M. Crittenden, 2003); at 12 months, the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; M.D.S. Ainsworth, M.C. Blehar, E. Waters, & S. Wall, 1978) was administered. Results indicate a strong correlation between the severity of perinatal problems and the quality of attachment at 12 months. Based on the PERI, infants with high medical risks more frequently tended to be insecurely attached. There also was a significant correlation between insecure attachment and dyadic play interaction at 4 months (i.e., maternal controlling behavior and infant compulsive compliance). Moreover, specific dyadic interactive patterns could be identified as protective or as risk factors regarding the quality of attachment. Considering that attachment may have long-term influence on child development, these results underline the need for particular attention to risk factors regarding attachment among premature infants.

The Effect of Infant Massage on Mother-Infant Play Interaction

The Effect of Infant Massage on Mother-Infant Play Interaction

A Study on the Change of Primipara's Mother - Infant Interaction by Infant's Monthly Age

The intent of this longitudinal descriptive correlational study is to investigate the change of the mother-infant interactions over the periods of one month, three months and six months of the infant's age. This study is also intended to explore the interrelationships among three major factors--the perception of pregnancy, the mother-infant interaction and the maternal attitude. The samples participated are 36 pairs of mother and infant from two university hospitals in Seoul. A data collection was made, from October in 1988 to September in 1989, for each subject at five periods of time; prenatal period (after 36 weeks in pregnancy), postpartum two or three days, one month, three months and six months of infant's age. The research tools used in this investigation are Mother-Infant Play Interaction Scale (MIPIS), Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire and Cohler's Maternal Attitude Scale. Some of the findings are as follows; 1. There is a significant increase in the mother-infant interaction from one month to three months and six months of infant's age. The highest score of the mother-infant interaction during three periods is at the time of three months. 2. The primipara's mother-infant interaction is not affected by the demographic characteristics, such as age, education and vocation of mother, types of delivery, or sex of infant. 3. Among seven categories of the perception of pregnancy, the most positively perceived categories by primiparas are acceptance of pregnancy and identification of a motherhood role; whereas the negative ones are preparation for labor, concern for well-being of self and baby, and fear of pain, helplessness and loss of control in order of negativity. 4. There is no significant relationship between the perception of pregnancy and the mother-infant interactions. 5. There is no significant change in the maternal attitude over the period of one month, three months, and six months of infant's age. 6. There is no significant relationship between the maternal attitude and the mother-infant interactions. 7. The significant relationships are found between the perception of pregnancy and maternal attitude, especially in the categories of concern for well-being of self and baby, acceptance of pregnancy, identification of a motherhood role, fear of pain, helplessness and loss of control, and relationship with husband. In conclusion, it is confirmed that primipara's mother-infant interactions change over time period, and that perception of pregnancy and the maternal attitude do not affect the mother-infant interactions despite a significant relationship between those two variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Teenage parenting in different cultures, family constellations, and caregiving environments: Effects on infant development

Teenage parenting was investigated in different ethnic groups (Cuban and American Black), family constellations (single-parent, nuclear, and extended families), and primary caregiving arrangements (mother versus other). One hundred sixty-four infants born to a representative sample of teenage mothers were observed during interactions with their mothers and were given developmental assessments when they were 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Being a Cuban mother, living in a nuclear family, and being a secondary caregiver were each associated independently with stronger social support systems and more positive child-rearing attitudes and mother-infant play interactions. Despite these early advantages, maternal stimulation and infant performance decreased over the second year of life irrespective of ethnic group, family constellation, and caregiving arrangements.

The impact of environmental factors upon patient attitudes and behaviour. A sociological study from Poland

An increasing body of research on typically and atypically developing infants has shown that motor skills play an important role in language development. To date, however, the role of specific object exploration skills for early gesture and vocabulary development has not been investigated in extremely low gestational age infants (ELGA, GA < 28 weeks), who are at greater risk for motor and language delays than full-term (FT) infants.This longitudinal study examined relations between 6-month active exploratory behaviors and 12- month word comprehension, gestures and vocal production, controlling for cognitive performance and neonatal condition (ELGA vs FT).Forty infants, 20 ELGA and 20 FT, and their mothers participated in the study. Mother-infant play interaction was video-recorded at 6 and 12 months. Oral and manual object exploration at 6 months and spontaneous gestures and vocal production at 12 months were coded. Word comprehension was evaluated with the Italian version of the MacArthur-Bates CDI parent questionnaire at 12 months. Cognitive performance was examined with the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales at 6 months and the Bayley-III Scales at 12 months.Regression analyses showed that after accounting for cognitive performance and neonatal condition, oral exploration was related to word comprehension, and manual exploration to gestures and vocal production in the overall sample.Cascading effects of specific object exploration skills on gestures and language comprehension and production in preterm infants and FT infants are discussed. Clinical implications for early assessment of and interventions involving object exploration skills, which may affect language development, are considered for the preterm population.

Sensitivity in mother-infant interactions: The AMIS scale

La présente étude s’intéresse au maternage tactile spontané lors du premier peau à peau réalisé avec de grands prématurés en service de réanimation néonatale. L’objectif est de tester l’hypothèse selon laquelle, comparée à l’installation usuelle où le bébé est installé verticalement dans les vêtements de la mère entre ses 2 seins, l’installation novatrice en « Flexion diagonale soutenue » (FDS) est davantage favorable à un maternage tactile de qualité, à visée interactive, et moins centré sur le maintien postural du bébé.L’échantillon comprend 20 grands prématurés nés entre 27 et 31 semaines et 6 jours et leurs mères. Les 10 premiers ont été installés en peau à peau selon la méthode couramment pratiquée in situ, en verticale avec coussin d’allaitement, les 10 suivants ont été installé en Flexion diagonale soutenue. Les 5 premières minutes du tout premier peau à peau ont été filmées et codées avec le logiciel The Observer. Le risque de dépression maternelle a été évalué au moyen de l’EPDS et les états de conscience du bébé au moyen de l’échelle APIB.Dans l’installation usuelle en verticale, les mères passent 59 % du temps à maintenir la posture de leur nouveau-né contre seulement 1 % dans l’installation FDS (IC 95 % 47,2–67,2). Dans l’installation FDS, libérées d’un toucher fonctionnel, les mains de la mère se dédient de façon équilibrée au toucher présence (39 %, contre 21 % en installation verticale, IC 95 % 5,3–30,0) et au toucher affectif (36 %, contre 16 % en installation verticale ; IC 95 % 7,8–31,4). Enfin, en FDS, les prématurés sont principalement en sommeil léger avec une somnolence diminuée et une absence d’éveil actif et agité.Spontanément, en installation FDS, les mères manifestent un maternage tactile plus actif, davantage affectif, favorisant une rencontre précoce de qualité dès le tout premier peau à peau.The present study focuses on mother's spontaneous touch during the very first skin to skin kangaroo care with premature babies in NICU. The aim is to test the hypothesis according to which, compared to the usual installation where the baby is installed vertically in the mother's clothes between the breast, the innovative installation in Supported diagonal flexion (FDS) fosters a more positive qualitative mother's touch, a touch dedicated more to enriching and scaffolding interactions with the preemie and less focused on postural support.Twenty very preterm infants between 27 and 31 weeks gestation and their mothers were offered skin to skin sessions. The first 10 infants included were offered the usual vertical positioning and a breastfeeding pillow for support. The following ten were offered SDF. The first five minutes of the session were videotaped and coded with The Observer software.In the usual vertical positioning mother's hands were used 59% of the time to maintain infant posture (hold or contain infant's body), therefore using touch for mechanical reasons (vs 1% in SDF positioning; 95% CI 47.2–67.2). With the SDF positioning, mothers used their hands for affective touch (36% vs 20% in the usual vertical positioning; 95% CI 5.3–30.0) and to signal presence (39% vs 20% in the usual vertical positioning; 95% CI 7.8–31.4). Infants were mostly in active sleep, and drowsiness was lowered in the FDS group as compared to the “as usual” one. There was no quiet awake or active awake state during skin to skin's SDF positioning sessions. Our results also showed that affective touch took place on the head in the vertical group whereas it was more frequently directed on the face in the SDF group. Mothers in the SDF group tended spontaneously more to rock their baby.With SDF positioning, mothers spontaneously used more active touch and expressed more affection through touch. The present study is part of a longitudinal follow-up from birth until 3 months corrected age. The vocal production and visual engagement of both partners are under analysis and will be considered in the light of the mothering touch interactions described here. Further research to describe interactions in all of their dimensions is necessary.