ASSESSING ADOLESCENT MOTHERS AND THEIR 9 MONTH OLDS IN THE LABORATORY

Abstract

Children of adolescent mothers do less well behaviorally than children of adults. We are reporting on the development of a qualitative instrument, using 9-point scales to assess the interaction between adolescents and their 9 month olds from two 10-minute videotaped sequences (1 in a high chair; 1 free play on floor) in the laboratory. A manual was developed to describe the behavior for each scale and to define the degree of behavior represented by the points on the scale. Initially, two trained coders independently rated 10 videotapes using 25 maternal, 10 child, and one maternal-child scales. Intercoder agreement for each scale was calculated by dividing the number of items on which coders agreed within one scale point by the sum of the agreements and disagreements. Any scale with intercoderagreement of <0.7 was redefined, and 10 tapes were independently scored by the coders and intercoder agreement recalculated. The instrument now contains 14 maternal, 6 child, and one maternal-child scales, all with intercoder agreement of >0.7 (Rge. of 0.7-0.9). Maternal scales assess affect, communication, encouragement of motor, cognitive, and perceptual activities, and selected attachemnt (Ainsworth) items; child scales assess affect, communication, social contact, behavior toward mother; and the maternal-child scale assesses the quality of the interaction. The presentation will illustrate the utility of the scales to evaluate changes in the interaction of adolescents and their 9 month olds.

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