Associations Between Early Dyadic Patterns of Mother-Child Interactions and Later Interactional Quality: A Relational Perspective

• In Event: 3-223 - Interventions in Early Childhood: The Central Role of the Parent-Child Relationship

Integrative Statement

Relational developmental systems (RDS) theories emphasize the dynamic and mutually influential relations between a parent and child (e.g., Overton, 2015). Scant research has employed relational methods to assess the joint contribution of parents and children in dyadic interactions across development, and provides conflicting evidence regarding coherence (i.e., qualitative similarities in patterns of behaviors over time) or discontinuity in parent-child relationships (e.g., Howes, Hamilton, & Philipsen, 1998; Van Ryzin, Carlson, & Sroufe, 2011). These studies often employ methods that consider parent and child characteristics separately and therefore may not capture the complex interrelations among caregivers and children across time. Given the gap between relational theories and the operationalization of these theories in prior studies, the current study used relational methods to investigate associations between interactional quality in infancy and early childhood to gain a stronger understanding of the nature of parent-child relationships over time. Emotional availability theory (e.g., Biringen, Derscheid, Vliegen, Closson, & Easterbrooks, 2014) provides a framework for considering relational patterns of parent-child interaction.

The sample was 311 mothers (Mage = 18 at childbirth) and their children (Mage = 12 months-5 years) enrolled in a randomized controlled-trial evaluation of a voluntary home visiting program for first-time young parents (< 21 years). This prevention-oriented program focused on promoting positive life course trajectories for mothers and children, supporting positive parenting, reducing child maltreatment, and enhancing maternal well-being. Data were collected in 6 waves from infancy to early childhood. Thirty-seven percent of mothers self-identified as non-Hispanic White, 19% non-Hispanic Black, 8% non-Hispanic other, 36% Hispanic. In the current study, observational data were collected to assess mother-child interactions (a) maternal sensitivity, nonhostility; child responsiveness (age 2) (Emotional Availability Scales (EA), Biringen, Robinson, & Emde, 1998); and (b) maternal-child synchrony at age 5 (Interactional Synchrony Scale, Mize & Pettit, 1997).

Using latent profile analysis (LPA) with full information maximum likelihood (FIML, Muthén & Muthén, 2010), we identified a three-profile solution showing discrete combinations of mother and child behaviors at age 2. Profile 3 was characterized by the highest functioning dyads and included mothers with the highest sensitivity and nonhostility scores as well as children who were viewed as inconsistently responsive. Profile 2 was characterized by the lowest functioning dyads and was comprised of the lowest maternal sensitivity, maternal nonhostility, and child responsiveness scores. Profile 1 was characterized by inconsistent maternal sensitivity, slight covert maternal hostility, and inconsistent child responsiveness (Figure 1). Mean differences in interactional synchrony (age 5) across the profiles (one-step Bolck–Croon–Hagenaars (BCH) method) showed consistency in parent-child relationships but revealed discontinuity in interactional dyadic quality over time, with some dyads showing positive changes from infancy to early childhood (Table 1). These findings support the promotion of program and policy initiatives that aim to improve the quality of parent-child relationships and suggest that prevention and intervention efforts centered on the dyad early in life could play a critical role in improving and optimizing the parent-child relationship across development.

Authors

• Rachel C. Katz, SRCD Post-doctoral State Policy Fellow, Division of Early Intervention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Tufts University
  Presenting Author

• Ann Easterbrooks, Tufts University
  Non-Presenting Author