title: Patterns of mother-infant interaction from 3 to 12 months among dyads with substance abuse and psychiatric problems.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the development of mother-infant interaction patterns from 3 to 12 months among three groups of mother-baby pairs recruited during pregnancy: one group from residential substance abuse treatment (n=28), a second group from psychiatric outpatient treatment (n=22), and a third group from well-baby clinics (n=30). The mother-infant interaction at 3 and 12 months was assessed by the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA), which consists of maternal, child and dyadic subscales (Clark, 2006). Linear mixed effects models were used to analyze group differences and the changes in mother-infant interaction from 3 to 12 months. At 3 months, pairwise comparisons showed that the group with psychiatric problems had significantly more difficulties in the mother-infant interaction than the two other groups. The group with substance abuse problems was not significantly different from the two other groups. At 12 months, the mother-infant pairs in the substance abuse group showed significantly more relational disturbances than the non-clinical pairs, as well as a poorer affective quality of interaction than the dyads in the group with psychiatric problems. Analysis of change from 3 to 12 months showed that difficulties in the interaction increased among the mother-baby pairs in the substance abuse group, while improvements were displayed in the two other groups. These results underline that mother-infant pairs at double risk due to maternal substance abuse and other non-optimal factors, are in need for long-term follow up in order to prevent the development of negative interactional patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: torill.siqveland@psykologi.uio.no.
authors.forename: Torill S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Siqveland
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; National Network for Infant Mental Health in Norway, The Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haabrekke
authors.affiliation: The Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Norway.
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wentzel-Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; National Network for Infant Mental Health in Norway, The Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway, Norway.
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010045:Outpatients; D011247:Pregnancy; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Long-term interaction patterns; Maternal substance abuse and psychiatric problems; Mother–infant interaction