Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measuring mothers' perceptions about the influences of infant caregiving practices

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The importance of measuring mothers' perceptions of the influences of infant caregiving practices on infants' present and future well-being was discussed, with focus on the relevance of such measurement for programmatic efforts in parenting education. An instrument (Infant Caregiving Inventory, or ICI) which measures such perceptions was described. Data from three independent samples provided evidence regarding the following aspects of ICI scores: Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, long-term stability, referent group validity, and predictive validity in terms of actual parenting practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cornell EH, Gottfried AW: Intervention with premature human infants.Child Dev 47:32–39, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Masi W: Supplemental stimulation of the premature infant. In TM Field (Ed):Infants born at risk: Behavior and development NY: SP Medical and Scientific Books, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Korner AF: Intervention with preterm infants: Rationale,aims, and means. In VL Smeriglio (Ed):Newborns and parents: Parent-infant contact and newborn sensory stimulation, Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Horowitz FD, Paden LY: The effectiveness of environmental intervention programs. In BM Caldwell, HM Ricciuti (Eds).Review of child development research, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Caldwell BM, Bradley RH:Home observation for measurement of the environment. Little Rock: University of Arkansas, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Erickson ML:Assessment and management of developmental changes in children. St. Louis: CV Mosby, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Elardo R. Bradley R. Caldwell BM: The relation of infants home environments to mental test performance from six to thirty-six months: A longitudinal analysis.Child Dev 46:71–76, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bradley RH, Caldwell BM: The relation of infants' home environments to mental test performance at fifty-four months: A follow-up study.Child Dev 47:1172–1174, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bradley RH, Caldwell BM: The relation of home environment, cognitive competence, and IQ among males and females.Child Dev 51:1140–1148, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Elardo R, Bradley RH: The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Scale: A review of research.Dev Rev 1:113–145, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Chamberlin RW, Szumowski EK, Zastowny TR: An evaluation of efforts to educate mothers about child development in pediatric office practices.Am J Public Health 69:875–886, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chamberlin RW, Szumowski EK: A follow-up study of parent education in pediatric office practices: Impact at age two and a half.Am J Public Health 70:1180–1188, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  13. deLissovoy V: Child care by adolescent parents.Child Today 2:22–25, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Epstein A:Pregnant teenagers' knowledge of infant development. Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development. Bienial Meeting, San Francisco, 1979.

  15. Linde DB, Englehardt KF: What do parents know about infant development?Pediatr Nurs 5:32–36, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Snyder C, Eyres SJ, Barnard K: New findings about mothers' antenatal expectations and their relationship to infant development.Matern Child Nurs 4:354–357, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Clarke-Stewart KA: Popular primers for parents.Am Psychol 33:359–369, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Korner AF, Thoman EB: The relative efficacy of contact and vestibularproprioceptive stimulation in soothing neonates.Child Dev 43:443–453, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bell SM, Ainsworth MDS: Infant crying and maternal responsiveness,Child Dev 43:1171–1190, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Brazelton TB, Tronick E, Adamson L, Als H, Wise S: Early mother infant reciprocity. In CIBA Foundation Symposium 33:Parent-infant interaction. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Committee on Standards of Child Health Care: Standards of child health care.Am Acad Pediatr 3:4–5, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bureau of Biostatistics, Baltimore City Health Department:Census Tract Manual. Baltimore: Baltimore City Health Department, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bureau of Biostatistics, Baltimore City Health Department:Socioeconomic Tenths, Baltimore: Baltimore City Health Department, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Maryland School of Nursing, Maryland, USA

    Peggy Parks PhD

  2. Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, MCH, 615 N. Wolfe St., 21205, Baltimore, MD

    Vincent L. Smeriglio PhD

Authors
  1. Vincent L. Smeriglio PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peggy Parks PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported in part by funds (MCT-106) from the Office for Maternal and Child Health, Bureau of Community Health Services, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, and by a Graduate School Research Award from University of Maryland at Baltimore.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smeriglio, V.L., Parks, P. Measuring mothers' perceptions about the influences of infant caregiving practices. Child Psych Hum Dev 13, 189–200 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705859

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705859

Keywords

Search

Navigation