Received: October 31, 2010; Revised: November 5, 2010 Accepted: March 2, 2011.
ABSTRACT
Relations between mother-infant interactive behaviors and parenting-related variables were analyzed in a sample of 72 infants (35 boys and 37 girls, average age=31 mo.) and their mothers in Ulsan, Korea. Parents' views on children, parenting stress, fathers' participation in parenting and social support were measured using questionnaires and mother-infant interactive behaviors were observed using the 3-bags test. Among the parenting-related variables, parents' views on children were related significantly with mothers' emotional expressions & infant's participation with mothers. Social support was correlated with mother's behaviors, including positive rewards and emotional expressions. Mother-infant interactive behaviors were closely correlated with one another: Mothers' positive behaviors such as overall reactivity and cognitive stimulation were correlated positively with infants' positive behaviors, including sustained attention and positive affect. Future studies will provide us with greater insights into the mechanisms underlying the effects of these parenting-related variables on infant behavior and development.