Reveals that different aspects of the environment differentially contributed to variability in communication performance of one-year-old infants. Findings support the environmental specificity hypothesis and underline the need to consider physical environmental parameters when investigating environmental influences. (Author/RH)

Infant temperamental difficulty was strongly related to mothers' level of postpartum depression, both directly and through the mediation of parenting self-efficacy. Social support appeared to function protectively against depression, primarily through self-efficacy. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed. (Author/RH)

Investigates whether 6- to 12-month-old infants' exposure to the successful search behavior of a sibling in two object-concept tasks would enhance infants' subsequent performance on these tasks. (HOD)

Argues that nonorganic failure-to-thrive syndrome (NFTT) in infants is the result of family disengagement--the family system's maladaptive style of interaction. Proposes a systems-based approach to diagnosis and to treatment, focusing on the process of disengagement and other interaction factors. (Author/ABB)

Investigates whether, and under what conditions, mothers of irritable infants, in contrast to mothers of less irritable babies, become less responsive/sensitive over time. (HOD)

Measures the degree of interdependence in timing between infants' right and left arm movements and between movements of both arms and the onsets of stressed vowels in tape-recorded infant-appropriate speech. (HOD)

Discusses the problems of social adjustment for children as Nigeria struggles with two cultures--its traditional culture and its Western colonial past. Identifies effects on present day child rearing practices in families and villages. (DST)

The Optimal Learning Environments model, a center-based intervention approach for infants and toddlers with severe handicaps, has five basic components: (1) environments designed for severely handicapped young children; (2) use of microcomputers in instruction; (3) a transdisciplinary consultant-therapist approach; (4) individualized curriculum…

Demonstrates that a mother's perceptions of and behavior toward an infant can be influenced by knowing whether the infant was born prematurely or full-term. Differences in maternal behavior arising from this knowledge appear to produce differences in the infant's behavior. (HOD)

Considers three questions: Do mothers of siblings show consistency in behavior to their children when observed with each child at 24 months? What stability is there in behavior of mothers toward their children from 12 to 24 months? Are sibling status or genetic factors related to differences between mothers in relative consistency or inconsistency…

A factor analysis was conducted on Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) item scores of low-income black and white urban mothers of infants 13 to 30 months of age to determine the extent to which the existing subscales were evident in this factor analysis.

Aimed (1) to determine whether a time sampling, frequency-count procedure for assessing mother-infant interaction could capture a set of theoretically important dimensions, and (2) to chronicle both ability and change within the mother-infant relationship. A total of 74 dyads were observed when infants were 1, 3, and 9 months of age. (Author/RH)

Reports a preliminary study on the stability of emotional expressions of four mothers and infants during the six to eight month period of the infant's life. Two hour videotaped home observations were assessed using a rating scale. Findings suggest emotional stability for mothers and dyads but not infants. (CB)

A total of 36 American and African mothers and their children in three age cohorts from 6 to 36 months of age interacted around age-appropriate teaching tasks. Major behavioral differences between cultural groups and tasks were demonstrated. (Author/RH)

A longitudinal study examined the connection between mothers' and fathers' sex role orientations and employment situations and the parents' involvement in child-oriented activities. Reported are interrelations among measures of husbands' and wives' sex role orientations, association between sex role attributes and extent of participation in the…