Mothers' interaction with their disabled infants: two case studies

Abstract

Interactions between mothers and infants have recently been the object of many studies, which uncover fundamental aspects of attachment and development. For disabled infants, comprehension of those interactions is particularly significant because the mother's behaviours can offer important clues to professional staff who work with the infant, signalling specific needs that may not be detected with standard tests. The Theory of Innate Intersubjectivity proposes that human beings possess an innate ability to share subjective states. The aim of this research was to analyse in detail the interactions of two mothers and their disabled infants. Footages of two mothers and their infants with different disabilities (a boy with hypotonia and a girl with Down syndrome), in normal daily activities of bathing, feeding and playing with the infants, were studied with microanalysis frame‐by‐frame, employing descriptive categories defined by Fiamenghi to identify intersubjective states. Results showed that intense interactions occurred in both dyads. However, the affective quality of the interactions varied according to the each mother's ability to share emotions with her child and the infants' responses to her affectionate states. The findings indicate that a mother of a disabled infant, regardless of the precise nature of the disability, should be aware that their child's development will benefit from a positive affective interaction with them. Future research should aim to develop programmes of intervention with parents that will equip them with information and procedures to help them cope with their infants' disability, and to improve their communicative and emotional skills in daily activities, as well as sharing their doubts and feelings regarding the difficult task of raising a disabled child.

Keywords:

• mother–infant interaction
• disability
• intersubjectivity
• development

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Prof. Colwyn Trevarthen for his important remarks and comments on the manuscript.