THE EFFECT OF INFANT IRRITABILITY ON MOTHER-INFANT INTERACTION - A GROWTH-CURVE ANALYSIS

To further understanding of temperament-interaction relationships, pat terns of interactive behavior were observed longitudinally (at 1, 2, 3 , 4, 5, and 6 months) in 30 lower-class dyads (15 irritable, 15 nonirr itable). Frequency data were analyzed by using multilevel analysis to assess the changing nature of the behaviors. Findings revealed that ir ritable infants differ from nonirritable infants both in amount and gr owth trajectory of positive and negative emotionality and in amount of environmental interest. Mothers of irritable infants differ from thos e of nonirritable infants in both amount and growth trajectory of visu al contact, effective stimulation, physical contact, soothing, noninvo lvement, and responsiveness to positive signals. Maternal behavior was systematically more positive in nonirritable compared with irritable infants. Findings are discussed in terms of current temperament theori es that stress the possibility of developmental changes in the express ion of early temperament.