Maternal Locus of Control and Developmental Gain Demonstrated by High Risk Infants: A Longitudinal Analysis

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Abstract
The short and long-term effects of a parent-infant training program for biologically handicapped infants was evaluated in terms of maternal locus of control. Twenty-four infants were evaluated on five developmental scales measuring motor, cognitive, and language functioning over a four-year period. Developmental gains on these indices were regressed against maternal locus of control partialing maternal education and socioeconomic status out of the relationship. The results indicated that maternal locus of control accounted for a substantial portion of variance in the developmental gains following the program intervention period. This was especially true for the cognitive and language indices. Locus of control in the mother, however, was not related to the motor indices, nor did it relate to cognitive and language gains achieved during the program intervention period. The results are discussed in terms of the mother's perceived contribution to infant progress in programs designed to produce sustained gains in early infant development.