Mother-Infant Interaction in Methamphetamine exposed and non-exposed Dyads

Abstract

Research shows that infants subjected to biological and environment risk factors, are at higher risk of not only developmental delay but other adverse outcomes as a consequence. Early identification and intervention may likely mitigate these consequences and result in better developmental outcomes. Maternal methamphetamine (MA) abuse is one such factor that presents as both a biological and environment risk factor for infants. The Infant Development, Environment and Lifestyle (IDEAL) Study is a Longitudinal Study developed in response to increasing concerns with regards maternal abuse of MA, prenatal exposure to MA, adverse postnatal environments and the potentially serious consequences of MA exposure on the development of children. The study presented in this thesis is based on the analysis of a small sample of the NZ IDEAL cohort. It explores mother - infant interaction for both MA exposed and unexposed samples of mothers with their 9-month old infants. Videotaped assessments of 9-month-old infants interacting with their primary caregivers (mainly biological mothers) are observed in a laboratory setting. Mother - infant interaction is assessed using a revised version of the Maternal Behaviour Q-sort Version 3.1 tool, by Pederson, Moran and Bento (1999). There were two objectives for these observations: 1) to determine the degree of maternal sensitivity displayed by the primary caregivers towards their infants; and 2) to determine whether observed infant behaviours were consistent with a secure pattern of attachment. The majority of mothers in this study were NZ European which is in keeping with the NZ population figures. 70% of the sample of NZ European mothers and 22.5% of Maori mothers were found to have used MA during their pregnancies. Other drugs such as tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol were also reported to have been used by some of the sample of mothers. While results showed no significant differences in mother-infant interaction between MA exposed and non exposed dyads at 9 months, significant differences were noted using the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-3) scale where 57.5% of MA using mothers were found to have a high probability of substance use disorder as compared to 13.6% of mothers who did not use MA. There was no significant difference between exposed and non exposed mothers when looking at the Beck Depression inventory. An association between Positive diagnosis on the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and maternal sensitivity was established, indicating a significant correlation between mental illness and deficits in mother-infant interaction. According to the literature presented, mothers with clinically significant mental illness present as a risk factor for adverse outcomes for children in their care. This risk may be compounded if it is combined with MA prenatal and postnatal exposure as well as other risks such as little or no social supports, single parent, low socio economic status, and others.