ERIC Number: EJ1469893
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0163-9641
EISSN: EISSN-1097-0355
Available Date: 2025-01-16
Early Parent-Child Interaction and Home Environments of Children Exposed Prenatally to Opioids: A Comparison of Biological Mothers and Out-of-Home Caregivers
Samantha J. Lee1,2; Alison Davie-Gray1; Lianne J. Woodward1,2
Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood, v46 n3 p343-358 2025
Children born to mothers with opioid use disorder (OUD) are at increased risk of maltreatment and out-of-home care (OOHC) placement. This study examines the parent-child interaction quality and home environments of 92 New Zealand children with prenatal opioid exposure (OE) and 106 non-opioid-exposed (NE) children. Experiences for those in maternal care versus OOHC were of particular interest. Biological mothers completed a lifestyle interview during late pregnancy/at birth. At 18 months, parent-child interaction observations, maternal/primary caregiver interviews, and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment were completed during a home visit. At age 4.5, children underwent developmental assessment. By 18 months, 20% of OE children were in OOHC. Mothers with OUD who were younger, less cooperative, and had increased polysubstance use during pregnancy were more likely to have lost custody of their child. OE children in their mother's care experienced less positive parenting and lower-quality home environments than NE children. OE children in OOHC had similarly resourced environments to NE children, yet experienced lower levels of parental warmth and responsiveness. Early parenting predicted child cognition, language, and behavior 3 years later, underscoring the critical importance of supporting the parenting and psychosocial needs of OE children's parents/caregivers to improve long-term outcomes.
Descriptors: Parent Child Relationship, Interaction, Family Environment, Prenatal Influences, Biological Influences, Mothers, Drug Use, Child Caregivers, At Risk Persons, Child Abuse, Placement, Life Style, Pregnancy, Observation, Child Custody, Parenting Styles, Child Rearing, Psychological Needs
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Home Observation for Measurement of Environment
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Canterbury Child Development Research Group, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand; 2Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand