Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 23, 2025

Author Spotlight: Capturing Infant-Caregiver Interactions Through Synchronized Multimodal Data Collection
08:08

Author Spotlight: Capturing Infant-Caregiver Interactions Through Synchronized Multimodal Data Collection

Published on: May 31, 2024

1.1K

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
PubMed

Insights

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

More Related Videos

Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers09:16

Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers

Published on: March 14, 2018

10.4K
A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG08:20

A Within-subjects Experimental Protocol to Assess the Effects of Social Input on Infant EEG

Published on: May 3, 2017

7.9K

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
88
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
145
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
9
Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
156
Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
41.3K
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
149