Mother-infant interaction at 12 months in prenatally cocaine-exposed children.
This study examined mother-infant interactions of 12-month-old African-American prenatally cocaine-exposed infants and their mothers. Videotaped observations were made during a free-play dyadic interaction, a brief separation, and a reunion period. Videotapes were coded for maternal and child behaviors during each phase of the procedure. Although there were few differences in interactive behaviors between prenatally cocaine-exposed and nonexposed children and their mothers, children who were prenatally exposed to cocaine ignored their mother's departure (odds ratio [OR] = 3.0, p < .05) during separation significantly more often than nonexposed subjects. In addition, mothers who abused cocaine engaged in significantly more verbal behavior (F(2,104) = 7.00, p < .001) with their children than mothers of nonexposed children. These findings indicate that women who used cocaine during pregnancy may not differ from nonusers in their interactions with their 12-month-old infants.
Ukeje
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I
Institute for the Study of Child Development, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019, USA.
Bendersky
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M
Lewis
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M
D000328:Adult; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D014743:Videotape Recording