Researchers have long argued the importance of shared book reading and its potential impact on future reading growth. With the increasing popularity of e-books and the introduction of interactive iPad books, more and more parents are sharing books with their children in digital format. This may have a direct impact on the nature of the interactions that occur during young children's early book sharing experiences. This multiple-case study examined the nature of the interactions between six mother-child dyads as they read a story on an iPad compared with the interactions that happened during a traditional book reading. A coding system was developed to categorize behaviors during the reading sessions. The categories included (a) meaning talk, (b) text and print talk, (c) technology talk, and (d) the nature of the affective climate.The results of this study indicate that mother-child traditional read-alouds and digital iPad read-alouds are different experiences. During digital readings there was an increase in the number of vocabulary-related (a subcategory of meaning) interactions but a decrease in the number of interactions related to text and print. The results also showed that as the dyad shared a digital storybook, they engaged in many interactions about the technological elements of the iPad texts, which may be important to the development of digital literacies in young children. The findings also indicate that a child is more engaged with digital texts than with traditional texts, which is important because engagement is an essential component in literacy development. However, sometimes the child's increased engagement with the digital texts resulted in both members of the dyad being less sensitive to the other. Digital storybook reading is a relatively new experience for many parents and thus, they may not know how to interact with their children in ways that promote the development of traditional and digital literacies.

Little is known about how maternal positive affect (PA) relates to maternal patterns of emotion socialization about positive emotions. The current study examined the hypothesis that mothers’ self-reported PA, independent of their negative affect (NA), is associated with increased and more appropriate modeling of verbal and nonverbal expressions of positive emotions in mothers. I examined associations between self-reported maternal PA and behaviors during video-taped discussions of times when the mothers and children were happy in 53 healthy mother-child dyads. These tapes were coded using standard observational coding schemes. Results suggest that mothers with higher ratings of PA, independent of NA, positively predicted levels of observed maternal positive involvement and communication while reminiscing. Maternal PA was unrelated to observed dyadic mutual enjoyment, positive emotion words and teaching during mother-child reminiscing. Results add to the existing literature on positive psychology in important ways. Theoretical implications for understanding positive emotions are discussed.

Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, nous tenterons de contribuer à la compréhension des processus qui régissent la relation entre le parent et l’infans, en nous intéressant plus spécifiquement au primat de l’autre en tant que constituant nécessaire de la psyché de l’infans, au sens ou l’entend la psychanalyse. Sachant que le développement de l’enfant dépend grandement de la qualité des soins psychiques et corporels qu’il reçoit, nous chercherons néanmoins à montrer comment la relation parent-enfant doit néanmoins prendre la forme d’une certaine violence. Nous baserons nos analyses sur les théories développées par Piera Aulagnier et Jean Laplanche. À partir des concepts de la violence primaire et secondaire développés par Aulagnier, ainsi que des notions d’implantation et d’intromission théorisées par Laplanche, nous tenterons de définir et déceler comment et sous quelles formes la violence décrite par les auteurs dans la relation mère/infans marque ou plutôt « signe » le développement psychique. À travers l’analyse comparative de ces théories, nous chercherons à voir les différences et les accords entre la pensée de ces deux auteurs, en vue d’en obtenir une compréhension plus riche. / In the context of this paper, we try to contribute to the understanding of the processes that govern the relationship between the parent and the infant, by focusing more specifically on the primacy of the other as a necessary component of the child’s psyche, as understood in psychoanalysis. Knowing that the child development depends greatly on the quality of the mental and physical care they receive, we try nonetheless to show how the parent-child relationship must still take the form of a « violence ». We base our analysis on the theories developed by Piera Aulagnier and Jean Laplanche. Using the concepts of primary and secondary violence developed by Aulagnier and the notions of « implantation » and « intromission » theorized by Laplanche, we try to define and identify how and in what forms the violence that takes place in the mother-infans relationship brands the psychic development of the latter. Through the comparative analysis of these theories, we will try to see the differences and agreements between the thought of these two authors in order to get a richer understanding of the phenomenon of violence.

Introduction. Numerous studies have suggested that maternal care can influence the development and expansion of an individual's self-esteem. Yet the neural mechanisms of this relationship remain unexplored. Incidentally, it has already been demonstrated that a brain region, namely the Hippocampus (HC) is associated with both self-esteem and maternal care. Thus suggesting that there may be a three-way relationship. This also provided the impetus to speculate that a similar interaction could be observed in other brain regions like for example, the Dorsolateral Prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC). Therefore, the aim of this study is to scrutinize the possible relationship between mother care, self-esteem and neural correlates including the DLPFC, MPFC and HC, with emphasis on how normal variations in mother care could have consequences for the relationship between self-esteem and particularly the prefrontal cortices. Methods . Fifty-one subjects were recruited on the basis of their maternal scores, as assessed by the Parental Bonding Index and were consequently assigned to either a high mother care (MOCA) or low MOCA group. Their self-esteem was measured through various self-esteem scales including the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. The structural integrity of the regions was ascertained through the use of both manual and semi automated segmenting procedures. Results . Initial Bivariate correlations reported a negative association between DLPFC volumes and self-esteem in the high MOCA group while HC was positively associated with self-esteem in both high and low MOCA groups. There were no associations to report for the MPFC. Additional analysis revealed that the Biregional association was sex specific. Discussion. For the first time, we were successful in associating DLPFC volume with self-esteem. In addition, we successfully replicated the association between self-esteem and HC volume. This study could provide an indication how of maternal care could have a sex specific affect not only on the evolution of self-esteem, but also on the regions they may be targeting.

Significant relationships have been identified between elements of early parent-infant interactions and later skills or qualities in the child. Generally speaking, sensitive and responsive interactions between a mother and infant during the first year of life tend to be linked with improved child developmental outcomes (Barnard, 1996; Wyly, 1997). Research has examined the influence of infant and family risk factors on parent-infant interaction. Family risk factors including maternal depression can reduce a mother's sensitivity and responsiveness to her infant. Evidence is mounting that mothers of preterm infants experience higher rates of depression than mothers of fullterm infants (e.g. Miles et al., 1999). Although all infants may be vulnerable to the effects of maternal depression, the premature infant is at greater risk due to his/her decreased responsiveness and increased need for appropriate stimulation (Field, 1995). The purpose of this study was to examine maternal reports of depressive symptomatology and associated variables at two time points following a very preterm birth: at one-month postpartum (Phase 1); and 3 months after infant hospital discharge (Phase 2). Observational data were collected at Phase 2 to explore whether maternal depressive symptoms and associated factors influenced maternal-infant interaction. A two-phase prospective follow-up design involved surveying mothers of very premature infants (&It; 32weeks) who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Multiple measurements were collected at Phase 1 and Phase 2. Mother-infant observational data were collected at Phase 2. The subject population comprised all eligible mothers of very premature infants who were admitted to a 60 bed tertiary referral NICU of a major metropolitan hospital (n=62). Mothers completed a survey at Phase 1 and Phase 2. The questionnaire contained a number of validated instruments measuring depression, stress, social support and coping. Maternal and infant demographic data were collated from the hospital records. Observational data were collected and coded using the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (Barnard et al., 1989). Results indicated that 40% of women reported clinically significant depressive symptomatology at one month postpartum. High maternal stress and low maternal education and support from nursing staff were major factors explaining depression scores. At Phase 2, 17% of women continued to report clinically significant depressive symptomatology. Depression at Phase 1 and maternal stress at Phase 2 were important factors explaining Phase 2 depression scores. An exploratory analysis of the relationship between mother-infant interaction and Phase 1 and Phase 2 variables revealed that the mothers' coping strategies, both in hospital and at home, were important factors in explaining mother-infant interaction. The results support previous findings that many women suffer stress and depressive symptoms after very premature birth. The results indicate that maternal depression, at one month postnatally, can be predictive of maternal depression at three months after infant hospital discharge and that very premature infants are less responsive interactive partners. These findings highlight possible parenting difficulties particularly during the first year. This study has contributed to family centered research by highlighting the importance of early postnatal experiences to the longer-term psychological health of mothers and to the mother-infant relationship. Screening mothers of very premature infants for postpartum depression will enable early identification of symptoms and appropriate referral for treatment.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 132 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-84).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1991.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1991.