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Face to face interactions of high-risk mother-infant pairs
76 FACE TO FACE INTERACTIONS OF HIGH-RISK MOTHER-INI PAIRS. Jeffrey F. C ohn, Davi~ Connell, & _Karlen LyonsrRuth. ;
Mother-infant interaction of 8 high-risk Caucasian dyads was investigated using microanalytic techniques. Subjects were among participants in an intervention project for multi-problem families. Median maternal CES-Depression Scale scores off'the intervention group were within the clinical range and family income was below the poverty level. As part of a longer videotaped home assessment, interactions of 2 min dur were videotaped when the infants were 6 months of age. Videotapes were coded with a set of behavioral descriptors on a 1/4 sec time base. The face to face exchanges were characterized by little joint visual regard and few bouts of positive engagement. Modal maternal behavior was neutral to negative. Five of 8 mothers were in positive states less than 10% of the time. Infant behavior was withdrawn and poorly regulated. Over 80% of infant time was spent in either avert or obOect. Posit~ee expressions when they did occur were attenuated. Lag analyses of infant and of dyadic state transitions indicated no sensitivity on the infant's part to its own previous behavior and only equivocal evidence of interactive effects. At 6 months of age these infants are responding in a manner which mirrors their mothers' lack of engagement and restricted i range of affective expression. I
Mother-infant interaction of 8 high-risk Caucasian dyads was investigated using microanalytic techniques. Subjects were among participants in an intervention project for multi-problem families. Median maternal CES-Depression Scale scores off'the intervention group were within the clinical range and family income was below the poverty level. As part of a longer videotaped home assessment, interactions of 2 min dur were videotaped when the infants were 6 months of age. Videotapes were coded with a set of behavioral descriptors on a 1/4 sec time base. The face to face exchanges were characterized by little joint visual regard and few bouts of positive engagement. Modal maternal behavior was neutral to negative. Five of 8 mothers were in positive states less than 10% of the time. Infant behavior was withdrawn and poorly regulated. Over 80% of infant time was spent in either avert or obOect. Posit~ee expressions when they did occur were attenuated. Lag analyses of infant and of dyadic state transitions indicated no sensitivity on the infant's part to its own previous behavior and only equivocal evidence of interactive effects. At 6 months of age these infants are responding in a manner which mirrors their mothers' lack of engagement and restricted i range of affective expression. I