ALTERING WITHDRAWN AND INTRUSIVE INTERACTION BEHAVIORS OF DEPRESSED MOTHERS

Interaction coaching was given to 44 depressed mothers who had either a withdrawn or intrusive interaction style with their infants. The int rusive and withdrawn mothers were given instructions either to imitate their infants' behavior or to keep their infants' attention. The resu lts suggested that the specific type of interaction coaching for the s pecific type of depressed mother (imitation for the intrusive mothers and attention-getting for the withdrawn mothers) significantly improve d their interaction behaviors with their infants.