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Dyadic parent-infant interaction patterns at 12 months: Exploring dyadic parent-infant gender compositions
Torill Sundet Siqveland1, Eivor Fredriksen1, Tore Wentzel-Larsen2,3
1Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Infant Mental Health Journal
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Mothers and fathers show similar interaction patterns with 12-month-old infants. Mothers scored slightly higher on engagement and enjoyment, while parent-daughter interactions were rated higher than parent-son interactions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
- Early Childhood Research
Background:
- Understanding parent-infant interactions is crucial for child development.
- Previous research highlights variations in maternal and paternal engagement.
- The role of gender composition in early dyadic interactions requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare dyadic mother-infant and father-infant interaction patterns at 12 months.
- To examine the relationship between parent-infant gender composition and interaction quality.
- To analyze differences in specific dimensions of early relational health.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a large-scale Norwegian population-based sample.
- Assessed 671 mother-infant and 337 father-infant interactions using the Early Relational Health Screen (ERHS).
- Analyzed overall interaction scores and seven sub-dimensions, considering gender composition.
Main Results:
- Most parent-infant interactions scored high, indicating normative relational health.
- Small differences observed: mother-infant dyads scored slightly higher overall, particularly in engagement and enjoyment.
- Parent-daughter dyads received higher scores than parent-son dyads; child gender did not moderate interaction patterns.
Conclusions:
- Maternal and paternal interaction styles are broadly similar at 12 months.
- Subtle differences favor mothers in specific aspects of engagement and enjoyment.
- Parent-daughter dyads exhibit slightly more positive interaction dynamics than parent-son dyads.
Keywords:
Eltern-Kind-InteraktionElternschaftGeschlechtszusammensetzung von Eltern und KindInteraction parent-bébéKindesentwicklungchild developmentcomposición de género de progenitor-infantecomposition du genre parent-bébécrianzadesarrollo del niñodéveloppement de l'enfantearly childhoodenfance précocefrühe Kindheitinteracción progenitor-infanteparent-infant gender compositionparent-infant interactionparentageparentingtemprana niñezالكلمات الرئيسية: التفاعل بين الوالدين والرضيع ، نمو الطفل ، الطفولة المبكرة ، التربية الوالدية ، تكوين جنس الوالدين والرضيعキーワード: 親−乳幼児相互交流、子どもの発達、幼児期、子育て、親-乳幼児の性別構成关键词:亲子互动, 儿童发展, 幼儿期, 育儿, 父母-婴儿性别构成
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