Mothers and newborns: dyadic interactions in different socio-economic groups in Israel

The interactive behaviour of 61 mother-neonate pairs of different socio-economic status (SES) were examined. Very few SES-related differences were found. The overall frequency of maternal and neonate behaviour was similar in both SES groups. Low SES pairs were more likely than high SES pairs to act simultaneously whenever the infant was vocalizing. Country of origin of mothers was found to be correlated with their SES. Western mothers were more likely than Middle-Eastern mothers to vocalize when the infant was silent and quiet, a pattern which seems to be in accord with their belief in their ability to influence the development of speech. This exploratory study suggests that the cultural background of mothers may manifest its effects on very early interactions, mostly on the timing and responsiveness of the pair's behaviour. A modified design and observation procedure is required to answer further questions raised by this exploration.