MOTHERS BELIEFS ABOUT THE CAUSES OF INFANT GROWTH DEFICIENCY - IS THERE ATTRIBUTIONAL BIAS

Tested for defensive attributional bias in mothers' causal explanation s for infant (2-12.5 months) growth deficiency, Mothers of healthy bab ies (controls; n = 82), growth deficient babies without medical proble ms (n = 27) and growth-deficient babies with mild medical problems (n = 22) rated their levels of agreement with 23 causes of growth problem s which were designed to vary irt the degree of personal threat to par enting self-esteem, Ratings were completed for the mother's (Own) baby and for a nonspecific (Other) baby. Findings partially support a theo ry of defensive attributional bias, with higher agreement when causes referred to Other (vs. Own) baby, and lower agreement with family-rela ted than with medical/nutritional causes, Factors that may have influe nced material experience of threat and implications of the findings fo r clinical practice are discussed.