91
Views
24
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Interactive skills of infants with their high-risk mothers

, , , , , & show all
Pages 139-147 | Accepted 01 Dec 2004, Published online: 12 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

In this pilot study, the interactive skills of infants with their high-risk, substance-dependent mothers were explored in residential treatment from pregnancy until the infant was 6 months of age. Fourteen mother–infant pairs were videotaped in feeding and free play situations at 6 months after birth. A comparison, low-risk group consisted of 12 ordinary Finnish mother–infant pairs with minimal clinical risks. The findings show significantly higher levels of dyadic interactive deficiencies among the high-risk mother–infant pairs compared to the low-risk pairs, displayed especially in the feeding situation as lack of mutuality and flat, empty, constricted affective tone of interaction. Also, more interactive deficiencies were found among the high-risk infants compared to the low-risk infants, but the differences were not significant. In this study, this finding might reflect the reduced amount of somatic complications and the benefits of treatment, the impacts of which were not explored. The differences between the high- and low-risk infants were displayed as more withdrawal, depressed mood and avoiding behavior and as less alertness and attentional abilities, robustness and focus on parent's emotional state among the high-risk group.

Savonlahti E, Pajulo M, Ahlqvist S, Helenius H, Korvenranta H, Tamminen T, Piha J. Interactive skills of infants with their high-risk mothers. Nord J Psychiatry 2005;59:139–147. Oslo. ISSN 0803-9488.

Savonlahti E, Pajulo M, Ahlqvist S, Helenius H, Korvenranta H, Tamminen T, Piha J. Interactive skills of infants with their high-risk mothers. Nord J Psychiatry 2005;59:139–147. Oslo. ISSN 0803-9488.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.