TY - JOUR
T1 - Interactions between anxious mothers and their infants
T2 - An integration of theory and research findings
AU - Kaitz, Marsha
AU - Maytal, Hilla
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Children of highly anxious mothers are at risk for developmental difficulties including anxiety disorders, and "anxious maternal behavior" and disturbed mother-infant interactions have been implicated in the transmission of risk. In this article, we describe interactions between mothers who are highly anxious and their young infant, based on the few directly relevant observation studies that are available. For more detail, we draw on a broader literature including studies of depressed mothers and developmental theory. Our goal is to describe how the interactions between anxious mothers and infants look to an outside observer and how they may feel to mothers and infants. We also discuss possible bases for their disturbed interactive behavior, the impact that the disturbances can have on both mothers and infants, buffers and risk factors, and routes to short-term intervention. Finally, we suggest directions for future research on maternal anxiety and anxious maternal behavior and the significance of such research for clinicians and researchers.
AB - Children of highly anxious mothers are at risk for developmental difficulties including anxiety disorders, and "anxious maternal behavior" and disturbed mother-infant interactions have been implicated in the transmission of risk. In this article, we describe interactions between mothers who are highly anxious and their young infant, based on the few directly relevant observation studies that are available. For more detail, we draw on a broader literature including studies of depressed mothers and developmental theory. Our goal is to describe how the interactions between anxious mothers and infants look to an outside observer and how they may feel to mothers and infants. We also discuss possible bases for their disturbed interactive behavior, the impact that the disturbances can have on both mothers and infants, buffers and risk factors, and routes to short-term intervention. Finally, we suggest directions for future research on maternal anxiety and anxious maternal behavior and the significance of such research for clinicians and researchers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33644616825&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/imhj.20069
DO - 10.1002/imhj.20069
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AN - SCOPUS:33644616825
SN - 0163-9641
VL - 26
SP - 570
EP - 597
JO - Infant Mental Health Journal
JF - Infant Mental Health Journal
IS - 6
ER -