Enhancing Maternal Interactive Behavior and Child Social Competence in Low Birth Weight, Premature Infants

Abstract

Effects of a comprehensive early intervention program for low birth weight, premature infants--the Infant Health and Development Program--on mother-child interaction were examined at 30 months (N = 683). Small significant positive effects were found: Intervention mothers had higher ratings on quality of assistance; intervention children had higher ratings on persistence and enthusiasm and on an overall child rating of competence and involvement and lower ratings on percentage of time off-task; intervention dyads were rated as more synchronous. Of a set of initial status variables indexing biological and environmental risk, only 2 treatment interactions were found. Intervention group black children had higher ratings on enthusiasm and lower percentage of time off-task. Independent of treatment, maternal ethnicity and education were significant predictors of maternal and dyadic ratings, while ethnicity and birth weight predicted child ratings. Implications for early intervention and center-based care are discussed.

Effect of Early Intervention on 8-Year Growth Status of Low-Birth-Weight Preterm Infants

“…The IHDP intervention has been shown to improve the quality of mother-child interaction and the children's home environment in the first 3 years of life. 47,48 Perhaps the children came to learn mealtimes to be both a biological event in which they received nutrition and a social event for mutual exchange between adults and children. This could lead to increased nutrition and nurturance over the years, which could ultimately improve growth status.…”

Transitions On and Off AFDC: Implications for Parenting and Children's Cognitive Development

“…The smaller sample was due to the fact that families who had moved were not seen at the 2 ½ -year assessment because of the cost. At the 3-year assessment, however, families who had moved were again seen, and child IQ was obtained for all 833 families (Spiker, Ferguson, & Brooks-Gunn, 1993).…”

Ethnic Variation in the Association Between Family Structures and Practices on Child Outcomes at 36 Months: Results From Early Head Start

“…If that puzzle was completed or 3 min elapsed, another more challenging puzzle was provided. The puzzle challenge task was videotaped, and child and parent behaviors were coded by child development researchers based on the coding in the Teenage Parent Demonstration study (Brooks-Gunn et al, 1992;Spiker, Ferguson, & Brooks-Gunn, 1993). Behaviors were assessed on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (very low incidence of the behavior) to 7 (very high incidence of the behavior).…”