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

Measurement of Maternal-Infant Interaction

June Andrews Horowitz

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


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