PEDIATRICS Vol. 65 No. 4 April 1980, pp. 815-820
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Casey, P. H.
Right arrow Articles by Whitt, J. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Casey, P. H.
Right arrow Articles by Whitt, J. K.

Effect of the Pediatrician on the Mother-Infant Relationship

Patrick H. Casey MD1 and J. Kenneth Whitt PhD1

1 Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill

Child development literature suggests a relationship between mother-child interaction and enhanced infant development. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to determine if a pediatrician's guidance improves the mother-infant relationship and the infant's development. Thirty-two normal mothers and their healthy first-born infants were followed by one pediatrician at 2, 4, 8, 15, and 21 weeks of age. These dyads were randomly assigned to a control group, who received customary care, or to an intervention group, who also received guidance based on the infant's developmental status at each age. Just prior to a 27-week visit, the mother-infant relationship was assessed by a person blind to group assignment. Infant development was assessed with the Bayley Mental Scales of Infant Development and two of the Uzguris-Hunt Ordinal Scales. Intervention group mothers were rated significantly higher on sensitivity, cooperation, appropriateness of interaction, and appropriateness of play (P < .05). Experimental infants were advanced on the Vocal Imitation ordinal scale. This study shows the effectiveness of this intervention on both the mother-infant relationship and infant development and supports pediatric involvement in this biosocial approach to well child care.

Submitted on April 6, 1979
Accepted on May 30, 1979




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
D. M. Sanghavi
Taking Well-Child Care Into the 21st Century: A Novel, Effective Method for Improving Parent Knowledge Using Computerized Tutorials
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, May 1, 2005; 159(5): 482 - 485.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
E. Dinkevich and P. O. Ozuah
Well-Child Care: Effectiveness of Current Recommendations
Clinical Pediatrics, May 1, 2002; 41(4): 211 - 217.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
M. Regalado and N. Halfon
Primary Care Services Promoting Optimal Child Development From Birth to Age 3 Years: Review of the Literature
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, December 1, 2001; 155(12): 1311 - 1322.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
M. A. Schuster, N. Duan, M. Regalado, and D. J. Klein
Anticipatory Guidance: What Information Do Parents Receive? What Information Do They Want?
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, December 1, 2000; 154(12): 1191 - 1198.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
A. Kempe, C. Dempsey, and S. R. Poole
Introduction of a Recorded Health Information Line Into a Pediatric Practice
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 1999; 153(6): 604 - 610.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
J. A. Taylor, R. L. Davis, and K. J. Kemper
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Versus Individual Well Child Care for High-risk Children: Maternal-Child Interaction and Developmental Outcomes
Pediatrics, June 1, 1997; 99(6): e9 - e9.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
P. Gemperline, J. Brockert, and L. M. Osborn
Preventive Health Care Utilization: Prenatal and the First 3 Years in a Utah Population
Clinical Pediatrics, January 1, 1989; 28(1): 34 - 37.
[Abstract] [PDF]