Rj. Simmons et al., INFANT-MOTHER ATTACHMENT AND NUTRITION IN CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS, Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics, 16(3), 1995, pp. 183-186
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.