Mother‐infant interaction of teenage mothers and the effect of experience in the observational sessions on the development of their infants

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Mother‐infant interaction of 14 teenage mothers and their infants was observed in the laboratory or in the home when the infant was 16, 20, 24 and 52 weeks of age. This behaviour was compared with that of 12 women 20 years or older and their infants. To control for experience in the observational sessions, a third similar comparative group of teenage mothers and their infants was also included in the study who were seen only at the end of the study when the infant was 52 weeks old. At 12 months the Home Observation Measurement of the Environment Inventory #opHOME#cp was administered and the infants were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development #opmotor and mental scales#cp and the Ainsworth Strange Situation procedure. Face‐to‐face interactions scores at 12 and 16 weeks of age were consistently better for the older mothers than the younger mothers. Teenagers showed few significant differences from older mothers in their mothering skills as measured in the home when the infant was 24 weeks of age. At 12 months observation groups received higher Bayley motor and mental, HOME and Attachment scores than the control group.