INFANT-MOTHER ATTACHMENT AND NUTRITION IN CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

The association between nutritional status (percentage of weight for h eight) and infant-mother relationship was studied over 4 years in 38 c hildren diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in the first year of life. Infa nt-mother relationship was assessed in a standardized laboratory obser vation. Although they could not be distinguished medically from the ot hers at the time of diagnosis, infants showing a specific form of inse cure relationship with their mothers (insecure-avoidant) differed from the others in: (1) failure to improve in nutritional status in the fi rst year; (2) continuing decline in weight for height in the first 3 y ears; and (3) significantly lower weight for height at 1, 2, and 3 yea rs of age. These data suggest that attention to mother-infant relation ships, particularly feeding interactions, may improve nutritional stat us in children with cystic fibrosis.