The predictive value of role supplementation on mother-infant interaction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of role supplementation on mother-infant interaction. Sixty caucasian primiparas between 20-30 years of age were randomly placed in experimental and control groups. The experimental group received role supplementation on the second postpartum day in the form of support of the mother in identifying and recording infant characteristics on the Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training (NCAST) Sleep/Activity Record. The control group received no role supplementation. The control group infant Sleep/Activity Record was completed by a Registered Nurse through interview of the mother. Mother-infant interaction was measured by the NCAST Feeding Scale during observation of a feeding situation during a home visit two months postpartum.

The Mann-Whitney U test revealed no significant differences in mother-infant interaction between the mothers in the experimental group and the mothers in the control group. While sampling methods and criteria for selection controlled most important variables affecting mother-infant interaction, the control group mothers experienced significantly more contact time with their infants as determined by the t-test for independent groups. Role supplementation and mother-infant contact possibly affected mother-infant interaction equally.