Early maternal sensitivity and child behaviour at toddler age: Does low maternal sensitivity hinder identification of behavioural problems?

Abstract

In our well‐baby clinic study, we investigated how early maternal sensitivity predicted child behaviour two years later. On the basis of the early (6–8 weeks) maternal sensitivity (the CARE‐Index I), 74 dyads were divided into the groups ‘good enough’ (73.0%), ‘moderate problems’ (13.5%) and ‘at risk’ (13.5%). At child age of 24 months, the mother–child interactive style was assessed using the CARE‐Index (II), the mothers reported child behavioural problems on the CBCL/2‐3, and public health nurses reported their worries about the children and dyads and the need for extra services. The ‘risk group’ mothers were assessed as the least sensitive and most unresponsive, and their children as the least co‐operative and most passive. Also, the public health nurses were most often worried about the ‘risk group’ dyads and children. They arranged extra well‐baby clinic visits and wished to have supervision for themselves in dealing with the risk group dyads. An unexpected finding was that the ‘risk group’ mothers reported fewer child behavioural problems than mothers in the ‘moderate problem group’. In conclusion, unresponsive mothers may see their children differently than do professionals, and this discrepancy makes both screening and preventive work more challenging. Use of multiple informants and observations is essential when assessing this age group.

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Nokia Corporation and the Child Psychiatric Research Foundation (Finland) and Child Psychiatric Research Foundation, Kuopio Area (Finland).