84 DEFICITS IN MOTHER-INFANT INTERACTION (MIA) ASSOCIATED WITH EARLIER OCCURRENCE/SEVERITY OF MALTREATMENT

Abstract

It is not clear what factors influence early versus later onset of child maltreatment sufficiently severe to be detected. In a prospective double-blind study, 34 mother (M)-infant (I) pairs were observed @ 6 months (m) postpartum; 13 I's already had been identified (ID) as maltreated & were compared with the 21 later (TBI) identified. Data from these MIA observations were examined for probability of transition between 4 dyadic states: both (B), infant (I), mother (M), or neither (N) responding. Response transitions (RT) more likely in the ID group were: I drops out (B→M, p=.02), abrupt mutual cessation (B→N, p=.04) & I stops (I→N, p= .004). RT more likely for TBI were: continuation of coacting (B→B, p=.002), initiation of coacting (M→B, p=.10) & M failing to join (I→I, p=.006). TBI also spent more total time coacting (B, p=.006) while ID spent more time quiescent (N, p=.01). From other research comparing normal with TBI MIA, it is known that the coacting state (B) & RT B→B & M→B distinguish normal while the quiescent state (N) & RT B→N & I→I characterize TBI. In this study the coacting state (B) & RT B→B, M→B & I→I predominate in TBI while the quiescent state (N) & RT B→N are more likely for ID. The remaining RT distinguishing ID (B→M, I→N) reflect cessation of I response. Except for RT I→I, TBI MIA resembles normal more than ID, suggesting that deficits in MIA are associated with earlier occurrence and/or severity of maltreatment.

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