Rosemary C White-Traut1, Kristin M Rankin2, Joe Yoder3, Laura Zawacki4, Suzann Campbell5, Karen Kavanaugh6, Debra Brandon7, Kathleen F Norr3. 1. Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, 845 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612, United States; Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Children's Corporate Center, P. O. Box 1997, MSC 140, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1997, United States. Electronic address: rwt@uic.edu. 2. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States. 3. Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, 845 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612, United States. 4. Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, 1600 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States. 5. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States. 6. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Children's Corporate Center, P. O. Box 1997, MSC 140, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1997, United States. 7. Duke University School of Nursing, DUMC 3322, 307 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The quality of mother-preterm infant interaction has been identified as a key factor in influencing the infant's later development and language acquisition. The relationship between mother-infant responsiveness and later development may be evident early in infancy, a time period which has been understudied. AIM: Describe the relationship between mother-infant mutual dyadic responsiveness and premature infant development. DESIGN: This study employed a secondary analysis of data from the 6-week corrected age (CA) follow-up visit of the Hospital-Home Transition: Optimizing Prematures' Environment (H-HOPE) study, a randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a mother- and infant- focused intervention for improving outcomes among premature infants. SUBJECTS: Premature infants born between 29 and 34 weeks gestational age and their mothers who had social-environmental risks. OUTCOME MEASURES: At 6-weeks corrected age, a play session was coded for the quality of mutual responsiveness (Dyadic Mutuality Code). Development was assessed via the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition. RESULTS: Of 137 mother-infant dyads, high, medium and low mutual responsiveness was observed for 35.8%, 34.3% and 29.9%, respectively. Overall motor, language and cognitive scores were 115.8 (SD = 8.2), 108.0 (7.7) and 109.3 (7.9). Multivariable linear models showed infants in dyads with high versus low mutual responsiveness had higher scores on the motor (β = 3.07, p = 0.06) and language (β = 4.47, p = 0.006) scales. CONCLUSION: High mutual responsiveness in mother-premature infant dyads is associated with significantly better language development and marginally better motor development.
BACKGROUND: The quality of mother-preterm infant interaction has been identified as a key factor in influencing the infant's later development and language acquisition. The relationship between mother-infant responsiveness and later development may be evident early in infancy, a time period which has been understudied. AIM: Describe the relationship between mother-infant mutual dyadic responsiveness and premature infant development. DESIGN: This study employed a secondary analysis of data from the 6-week corrected age (CA) follow-up visit of the Hospital-Home Transition: Optimizing Prematures' Environment (H-HOPE) study, a randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a mother- and infant- focused intervention for improving outcomes among premature infants. SUBJECTS: Premature infants born between 29 and 34 weeks gestational age and their mothers who had social-environmental risks. OUTCOME MEASURES: At 6-weeks corrected age, a play session was coded for the quality of mutual responsiveness (Dyadic Mutuality Code). Development was assessed via the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition. RESULTS: Of 137 mother-infant dyads, high, medium and low mutual responsiveness was observed for 35.8%, 34.3% and 29.9%, respectively. Overall motor, language and cognitive scores were 115.8 (SD = 8.2), 108.0 (7.7) and 109.3 (7.9). Multivariable linear models showed infants in dyads with high versus low mutual responsiveness had higher scores on the motor (β = 3.07, p = 0.06) and language (β = 4.47, p = 0.006) scales. CONCLUSION: High mutual responsiveness in mother-premature infant dyads is associated with significantly better language development and marginally better motor development.
Keywords:
Language development; Mother-infant interaction; Motor development; Premature infant behavior during social interaction; Premature infants; Social responsiveness