Parent-infant interaction quality is related to preterm status and sensory processing

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Neonatal Care
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Parent-infant interactions are crucial for infant socioemotional development.
• Preterm birth can negatively affect parent-infant interactions and infant socioemotional wellbeing.
• Infant sensory processing difficulties are common in preterm infants and linked to poorer interaction quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize parent-infant interaction quality in dyads with preterm infants.
• To examine associations between interaction quality, preterm status, and infant sensory processing.
• To investigate the interplay between preterm birth, sensory processing, and interaction dynamics.

Main Methods:

• 67 parent-infant dyads (22 preterm, 45 full-term) participated.
• Recorded 15-minute semi-structured play interactions were analyzed.
• Infant sensory processing was assessed using the Infant and Toddler Sensory Profile-2 (ITSP-2).
• Interaction quality was measured using the Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO).

Main Results:

• Preterm infants exhibited differences in sensory processing (visual, touch, movement) and interaction domains (responsivity, teaching).
• Infant prematurity was associated with lower responsivity and teaching, predicting overall interaction quality.
• Poorer infant sensory processing correlated with reduced parental teaching, affection, and responsivity.
• Interaction quality was predicted by infant prematurity and auditory sensory scores (R²=0.15).

Conclusions:

• Preterm infants differ from full-term peers in sensory processing and dyadic interactions.
• Preterm birth and sensory processing difficulties are associated with specific aspects of parent-infant interaction quality.
• Findings underscore the importance of examining the combined influence of preterm birth and sensory processing on early interaction dynamics.