Responsive parenting: Establishing early foundations for social, communication, and independent problem-solving skills

Susan H. Landry, Karen E. Smith, Paul R. Swank

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

698 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mothers whose infants varied in early biological characteristics (born at term, n = 120; born at very low birth weight [VLBW], n = 144) were randomized to a target group (n = 133) or developmental feedback comparison group (n = 131) to determine whether learning responsive behaviors would facilitate infant development. The target condition included videotaped examples, problem-solving activities, and mothers' critique of their own behaviors through video procedures across 10 home visits. All target versus comparison mothers showed greater increases across multiple responsiveness behaviors observed in 4 assessments conducted across 6-13 months of age; changes in emotionally supportive behaviors were strongest for target mothers of infants born at VLBW. Increased maternal responsiveness facilitated greater growth in target infants' social, emotional, communication, and cognitive competence, supporting a causal role for responsiveness on infant development. Although benefits were generally comparable across risk groups, aspects of social and emotional skills showed greater change for those born at VLBW. Evidence for responsiveness as a multidimensional construct was provided as well as the importance of different aspects of responsiveness mediating the effect of the intervention on different infant skill domains.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)627-642
Number of pages16
JournalDevelopmental psychology
Volume42
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006

Keywords

  • Infancy
  • Language input
  • Parent intervention
  • Responsive parenting
  • Very low birth weight

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Demography
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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