Korean J Child Health Nurs.  2000 Jun;6(2):132-143.

Correlations of Infant Temperament, Mother-Infant Interaction, and Child-rearing Environment

• Han KJ
• Bang KS

Abstract

The purpose of this correlational study was to find the correlation between the infant temperament, mother-infant interaction, and child-rearing environment. The subjects of this study were 37 dyads of healthy mothers and healthy infants. Data were collected from 15th of March to 3rd of September, 1999. Convenient sampling was done at Obstetric wards of one University hospital, and demographic data were collected before discharge. At one month and three month postpartum, we visited subject's home, and collected the data on the infant temperament, and also video taped the mother-infant interaction during feeding. In addition, child-rearing environment was checked by researcher according to HOME(Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment) at three months postpartum. Mother-infant interactions were rated according to the NCAST Feeding Scale later. Data were analyzed by window SPSS program, and correlations between the infant temperament, mother-infant interaction, and child-rearing environment were analyzed by Pearson's correlational coefficient. The results were as follows: 1. Infant temperament. 1) Among the subscales of infant temperament, mothers perceived cuddliness and amenability most positively at one month, and responsivity and amenability most positively at three months. 2) In subscale analysis of stability, amenability, responsivity, and persistence were stable with the time. 3) Significant relationships were found between the malleability and amenability, between the malleability and responsivity at one month, and also between the malleability and amenability, and between the malleability and cuddliness at three months. 2. Correlations of infant temperament and mother-infant interaction. 1) There was no significant relationship between the infant temperament and mother-infant interaction at one month. 2) There was a significant relationship between the infant temperament and mother-infant interaction at three months(r=.335, p < .05). In subscale analysis, there were significnt relationships between the total score of infant temperament and maternal sensitivity to infant's cues(r=.372, p < .05), and between the total score of infant temperament and maternal response to infant's distress (r=.331, p < .05). 3. Correlations of infant temperament and child-rearing environment. 1) There was no significant relationship between the total score of infant temperament at one month and total score of HOME at three months. In subscal analysis, the total score of infant temperament at one showed significant relationships with the organization of environment(r=.413, p < .05), and the emotional, verbal response at three months(r=.337, p < .05). 2) There was a significant relationship between the total score of infant temperament at three months and the total score of HOME at three months (r=.599, p < .01). In subscal analysis, the total score of infant temperament at three months showed significant relationships with the organization of environment(r=.410, p < .05), maternal involvement(r=.482, p,.01), and the emotional, verbal response(r=.695, p < .01) at three months. 4. Correlations of mother-infant interaction and child-rearing environment. There was a significant relationship between the maternal score of mother-infant interaction at one month and three months and the total score of HOME at three months (r=.474, p < .01; r=.452, p < .01). In conclusion, it was proved that infant temperament had significant relationships with mother-infant interaction and child-rearing environment, especially when the infants were getting older. This showed the possibility for changeability of infant teperament by the maternal factors.

MeSH Terms

Humans
Infant*
Mother-Child Relations*
Mothers
Postpartum Period
Temperament*
Child Health