Caregiver-Infant Interaction Quality: A Review of Observational Assessment Tools

Abstract

ABSTRACT The relationship between caregiver and infant interaction quality and infant developmental outcomes has long been established. As children mature, problems stemming from troubled caregiver-infant relations may result in referral to mental health, early intervention, or child protection services. The accurate and appropriate assessment of caregiver-infant interaction is critical for early recognition of problematic relations and for informing suitable treatment modalities. Evaluating the quality of the caregiver-infant relationship poses a challenge for researchers and clinicians seeking to explore the association between infant development and the quality of early caregiving experiences. This paper describes and compares commonly used measures of caregiver-infant interaction, including the Parent-Child Interaction Scales, Mutual Regulation Scales, Parent-Child Early Relationship Assessment, Mother-Infant Communication Screening, Ainsworth Maternal Sensitivity Scales, Maternal Behavior Q-sort, and the Emotional Availability Scales.