Maternal characteristics and their relation to early mother-child interaction and cognitive development in toddlers

Abstract

AbstractEarly mother-infant interaction is believed to have a significant impact on the social, cognitive, and emotional development of children. These interactions are not only influenced by child and contextual factors but also by the mother’s personality traits and strain. In this study, we investigated the relation between maternal factors such as personality, depressive symptoms, or experiencing of emotions, with (i) children’s early cognitive development and (ii) interaction patterns in a sample of 116 mother-child dyads (mean child age = 18.63 months ± 6.42). Maternal factors were assessed using standardized questionnaires, children’s cognitive development was measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, and interaction patterns were evaluated using the CARE-Index. The study found that children of mothers who scored higher in agreeableness performed better in cognitive assessments. Additionally, our analysis revealed statistical trends indicating that mothers with higher levels of conscientiousness tended to be less unresponsive in the interaction with their infants, while those with higher levels of neuroticism were more likely to exhibit compulsive behavior in their toddlers. Additionally, there was a trend indicating that maternal depression was associated with increased maternal controlling behavior towards toddlers. Finally, mothers who placed significant importance on their bodily signals to assess their overall well-being had higher scores in the quality of interaction with their child. Overall, these findings show the intricate relation between maternal behavior and state with dyadic interaction quality. This should underline that optimal infant development is only possible if mothers are well supported especially if in need due to various burdens such as depressive symptoms.