EFFECTS OF BIRTH-ORDER AND SPACING ON MOTHER-INFANT INTERACTIONS

Examined early differences in mother-infant interaction as a function of infant birth order and birth spacing. 193 3-mo old infants and their mothers were observed in the home for a 2-hr period during which a wide variety of mother and infant behaviors were recorded. Birth-order effects were significant, with firstborns generally receiving and emitting behavior more frequently than later-borns. Birth-spacing effects were significant for maternal behavior, such that very closely and widely spaced infants received more maternal attention than middle-spaced groups. Both biological and environmental interpretations of these data are offered. The data are related to the theoretical model of the reciprocal nature of the infant-caregiver relationship. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.