INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MOTHERS AND INFANTS SHOWING FOOD REFUSAL

This study examined the interactional patterns of mothers and their in fants who showed food refusal (N = 24) and of mothers and infants in a control group (N = 24) during feeding and play. The observations reve aled significant group differences in both infant and maternal behavio r. Infants in the case group rejected food more often and showed less clear communication signals than control infants, and mothers of case infants were less sensitive, less cooperative, and had more verbal tea ching/control behavior than the control group. These differences perta ined to both feeding and play situations. The findings have implicatio ns for the development of appropriate and efficient intervention strat egies for infants showing food refusal.