Developmental Correlates and Predictors of Emotional Availability in Mother_Child Interaction: A Longitudinal Study From Infancy to Middle Childhood

Maternal emotional availability (i.e., nonhostility, sensitivity, and nonintrusiveness) is important for children's functioning. Mothers and children were observed and tested in infancy and middle childhood to assess maternal interactive behaviors and child outcomes. Results revealed an association between maternal emotional availability and children's functioning, and a continuity of mother-child interaction from infancy to middle childhood.