THE RELATIONSHIP OF PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

The results from four early intervention evaluation studies are descri bed in relationship to their impact on parent-child interaction as mea sured by the Maternal Behavior Rating Scale. Intervention studies incl uded the Infant Health and Development Program, the Longitudinal Studi es of the Effects and Costs of Alternative Types of Early Intervention , the Play and Learning Strategies Program, and the Family-Centered Ou tcome study. Results from these analyses indicated that intervention e ffects on child development were unlikely to occur unless mothers modi fied their style of interacting with their children. Although these st udies indicated that mothers of children who participated in intervent ion modified several different parameters of interactional style, only their level of responsiveness was positively associated with their ch ildren's developmental outcomes. These results are discussed in relati onship to child-focused and relationship-focused models of early inter vention.