Neighborhood Environment and Mother-Infant Interaction: Considering the Roles of Maternal Psychological Distress and Social Support

The quality of mother-infant (MI) interaction is vital to optimal child development and neighborhood environment has emerged as an important contextual factor linked to MI interaction. However, less attention has been given to understanding the mechanisms underlying the association between neighborhood environment and MI interaction through maternal psychological distress or social support. Therefore, we investigated associations between neighborhood environment (surrounding neighborhood characterized by safety and low noise level) and MI interaction and the potential mediating roles of maternal psychological distress (maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms) and social support. The data for this study (N = 949 MI dyads, infant mean age: 7.6 months) were obtained from the Family Life Project (FLP) conducted in rural areas of North Carolina and Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2008. FLP’s home visitors evaluated neighborhood environment during a 6-month home visit, while mothers completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, and social support. MI interaction was observed during free-play interaction. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the direct effect of neighborhood environment on MI interaction and the effects of the hypothesized mediators on this relationship. Findings indicated that neighborhood environment had a positive direct effect on MI interaction; maternal psychological distress and social support did not mediate the relationship. The results suggest the importance of contextual factors on MI interaction that extend beyond women’s maternal behaviors. To enhance the quality of MI interaction, public policies should aim to improve neighborhood conditions for mothers and infants.