Determinants of mother-infant interaction: Effects of prenatal drug exposure, social support, and infant temperament

Abstract

Examined the contribution of infant irritability and social support in predicting mother-infant interaction among 20 drug-using and 20 drug-free low-income mothers. Using the averaged scores of multiple administrations of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, the drug-exposed infants did not score lower on the observed irritability cluster. The relation between perceived infant irritability and positive maternal behavior varied as a function of drug use. In the drug-free group, high levels of perceived infant irritability were paired with low levels of positive maternal behavior. In the drug group, perceived infant irritability was not related to maternal behavior. These results highlight the need to assess infant, caregiver, and environmental factors in assessing the effects of drug exposure on mother-infant interaction.