0000000000082209
AUTHOR
Patrícia Alvarenga
An intervention focused on maternal sensitivity enhanced mothers' verbal responsiveness to infants
Abstract We investigated the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at enhancing maternal sensitivity on mothers' verbal responsiveness to infants. Forty-four mothers from low-income, Brazilian homes and their 3-month-old infants were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 22) and comparison (n = 22) groups. The intervention spanned eight monthly home visits, during which mothers were trained to acknowledge and respond to infants' behaviors. Maternal verbal responsiveness was assessed during dyadic free play when infants were 11 and 18 months old. We computed the probability that mothers would follow infants' behaviors with verbal unimodal (only verbal) or multimodal (simultaneous verbal an…
Effects of a short video feedback intervention on enhancing maternal sensitivity and infant development in low-income families
This study evaluated the effects of a short video feedback intervention aimed at enhancing maternal sensitivity and the development of infants from low-income families in a randomized controlled trial. Forty-four mother-infant dyads living in low-income communities from Salvador, Brazil were randomly assigned between intervention and control groups. Maternal sensitivity was assessed during free-play and infant development was evaluated with a standardized scale. Intervention took place in eight home visits between the infant's third and tenth month. Results showed mothers in the intervention group interpreted the meaning of their infants' behavior more often (r = 0.33), asked babies more qu…
Theoretical and Empirical Underpinnings of Maternal Sensitivity: Considerations of Sensitivity Across Cultures and Socioeconomic Status
This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of maternal sensitivity and its predictors, along with the assumptions that explain its repercussions on child development and evidence of these relations. We first present the conceptual and operational definitions of maternal sensitivity espoused by Attachment Theory. Next, we summarize predictors of maternal sensitivity, emphasizing how maternal mental health issues and economic vulnerability can hinder mothers’ ability to sensitively respond to their infants. Finally, we discuss longitudinal studies and meta-analyses which show how maternal sensitivity predicts numerous domains of child development.