The relationship between the quality of caregiver-child interaction and social-emotional problems in toddlers

This study explored the relationship between the quality of caregiver-child interaction and the presence of social-emotional problems in toddlers. The research question explored whether or not the presence of significant social-emotional problems was greater in families with less than adequate quality of interaction. The study was conducted with families enrolled in the Child FIRST programs in New London and Windham counties who had children age 12 months to 36 months at the time of intake (N=18). Within thirty days of the intake, caregivers completed a self-report assessment, the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) to screen for social-emotional problems in their toddler. Also, each family's quality of caregiver-child interaction was rated using the Caregiver-Child Interaction Scale (CCIS). Two subgroups were then formed, families with at least adequate quality of interaction (N=3), and families with less than adequate quality of interaction (N=15). The data suggest that children are more likely to have significant social-emotional problems if the quality of interaction they experience is less than adequate. The potential implications of these findings for social work practice may be that a greater awareness of the relationship between quality of parent-child interaction and the presence of significant social-emotional problems during the toddler years could potentially lead to a shift in treatment focus with a greater focus being placed on the early childhood years.