Caregiver-infant interactions and caregivers' representations of relationships in failure to thrive

Quality of mother-infant interactions, and mothers' representations of relationships, were explored with 30 infants who were failing to thrive (FIT) and 27 thriving infants. Mother-infant dyads were observed during feeding and play, and mothers' representations were assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985) and the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI; Zeanah, Benoit, & Barton, 1986). Quality of mother-infant interactions was unrelated to infant medical status (FIT, non-FIT), but was associated with mothers' representations of relationships as assessed by the AAI and WMCI. Mothers' representations of relationships were strongly associated with infant medical status. More mothers in the FIT group were classified as non-autonomous using the AAI compared to mothers in the non-FIT group (93% vs. 67%), and as non-balanced using the WMCI compared to mothers in the non-FTT group (86% vs. 44%). Methodological issues, directions for future research, and implications for intervention are discussed.