This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Horowitz, J. A. Articles by Anderson, J. K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Measurement of Maternal-Infant Interaction

Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA, june.horowitz{at}bc.edu

M. Cynthia Logsdon

University of Louisville, School of Nursing, Louisville, KY, mclogs01{at}louisville.edu

Jessie K. Anderson

Norton Suburban Hospital, Louisville, KY, jessie.anderson{at}midwives.org

Evaluating the quality of the maternal-infant relationship is a challenge to researchers and clinicians interested in infant development and quality of early parenting. The purpose of this article is to describe and critique commonly used measures of maternal-infant interaction to assist researchers in making informed decisions about measuring this variable. The measures reviewed are valuable approaches to assessment of parent-child interaction for research; several are adaptable for clinical use as well. In selecting the most appropriate measure for a particular study, investigators are encouraged to consider the conceptual model on which the instrument is based, accessibility of training, extent of previous use, evidence of reliability and validity, and specific requirements for equipment, specialized laboratory setting, administration, and scoring. Using maternal-infant interaction measures that are appropriate for clinical practice could assist psychiatric-mental health nurses and other mental health clinicians to identify problematic aspects of interaction that may be amenable to treatment with interpersonal, cognitive, behavioral, and psychoeducational strategies.

Key Words: maternal-infant interaction • questionnaires • observer-rated interaction • postpartum depression • mothering • maternal role functioning

Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Vol. 11, No. 3, 164-172 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1078390305278788


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?