Characteristics of mother-infant interactions in nonorganic failure to thrive.
Nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFTT) is characterized by physical and developmental retardation and a disturbed mother-infant relationship. This study sought to quantify differences in interactions between mother-NOFTT infant pairs and control mother-thriving infant pairs. Eleven mother-NOFTT infant dyads and 11 control mother-infant dyads were videotaped for 30 minutes through a one-way mirror. Mother and infant behaviors were evaluated for 21 behavioral categories: 12 maternal, 7 infant, and 2 mutual. Statistically significant differences were noted in five (24 percent) categories. The quantity of maternal and infant vocalizations and the responsiveness of the mother to the infant's vocal cues were strikingly reduced in the NOFTT dyads.
Berkowitz
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Pediatric Clinic, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance 90509.
Senter
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SA
D000328:Adult; D003448:Crying; D003463:Cues; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment