Impact of mother–infant interaction on development during the first year of life: A systematic review

Abstract

The objectives of this project were to systematically review the impact of mother–infant interaction on the development of infants 12 months or younger and determine factors that mediate this relationship and early development. We systematically reviewed the literature and identified 21 papers which fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. The majority of the studies found significant association between mother–infant interaction and language, cognition, motor, and social development during the first year of life. Only seven studies assessed motor development and four studies found significant relationship between motor development and mother–infant interaction. Prematurity, infant age, multiples births, maternal anxiety, maternal opioid exposure, history of foster care, and criminal record were the only factors found to mediate the relationship between mother–infant interaction and social, cognitive, and language development. The quality of the interactions between a mother and infant can both positively and negatively influence cognitive, language, and social outcomes during the first year of life. Additional research is needed to determine the influence of mother–infant interaction on motor development. Future research is needed on the efficacy of interventions designed to alter mother–infant interaction with the ultimate goal of achieving positive developmental outcomes during the first year of life.