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Abstract
This study assessed the predictive values of the behaviour parents direct to their newborn and to one another for their later behaviour with their children. Thirty-two sets of parents were observed at the birth of their child and over the following two years.
Overall both parents engaged in substantial amounts of infant-directed behaviour over the two year period. However measures of single behaviours at birth correlated significantly with only 8% of later measures. Multiple regression analyses of the predictive value of birth measures in combination produced solutions for 50% of later measures.
The birth behaviours that accounted for significant amounts of mothers' later variability were frequently low in predictive value for fathers and vice-versa, eg behaviour directed to partner had predictive value only for mothers. Measures which assess mothers' involvement cannot necessarily be used for fathers. Continuities in fathers behaviours were found only to three months; their early reactions say little about their interactions in the second year. Mothers' behaviour, in contrast, exhibited more long term continuities; their initial strategies for engaging their infants appeared to be useful still in the second year.
Results highlight the weakness of single measures as indices of quality of relationships. In addition, behaviours at birth may have different implications and different functions for mothers than for fathers. Fathers' experiences at birth may have little significance for their later involvement.