Is mothers’ cocaine use associated with poorer quality of feeding interactions with their offspring?

Background. In dyads where the mother uses cocaine, little research has been done to assess mother-child relations during feeding. However, the effectiveness of these early interactions is critical for developing young infants. Methods. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether maternal cocaine use, psychopathology (measured through the SCL-90/R), and difficult child temperament (assessed via the QUIT) were associated with a lower quality of mother-child feeding interactions (evaluated through the SVIA) compared to a group of dyads with mothers who did not use any drugs. Results. The quality of mother-child relations during feeding in SU Group was significantly lower than in NSU Group. Additionally, data revealed that moms who use cocaine had higher SCL-90/R scores and were more maladaptive in anxiety, depression, and interpersonal sensitivity. Higher maternal anxiety levels indicated more detrimental effects on the mother’s affective state during feeding. The group of mothers who used cocaine showed that higher maternal anxiety only predicted higher scores on three SVIA subscales (indicating lower quality), when considered alongside higher scores on children’s Negative Emotionality. Conclusions. Although the overall findings are not novel, this study adds to the body of knowledge because it is one of the few to have evaluated the quality of dyadic exchanges using observational measures, unlike many other studies that used self-or report-form questionnaires. This finding compels clinicians and other professionals to plan programs that promote parenting in homes where either the mother or the father uses drugs.