Patterns of Emotional Availability in Mother-Infant Dyads in the Context of Substance Use Disorder

Maternal Substance Use Disorder (SUD) represents a risk factor for parenting, parent-child relationships, and child development (Parolin & Simonelli, 2016; Ross et al., 2015). Different studies focused on specific parenting dimensions (e.g., maternal sensitivity or intrusiveness), comparing their functioning in mothers with SUD and low-risk mothers. Fewer studies considered patterns of functioning between different parent’s characteristics. The aim of this study was to identify patterns of Emotional Availability (EA) – that is the capacity of a dyad to share an emotionally healthy relationship (Biringen, 2008) – and to examine their association with individual factors and maternal psychopathology, in order to provide a global index of the quality of mother-infant interaction and dyadic structure. The study involved 77 mothers with SUD (Mage=28.55yrs, SD=6.41) and their children (47% male, Mage=12.47mths, SD=15.04). Mother-child interactions were observed and rated with the Emotional Availability Scales (EAS) at the admission of the dyads into a residential Therapeutic Community. Cluster analysis was used to detect potentially different patterns of dyadic interactions. The different groups of mother-child dyads were examined in relation to contextual and clinical variables, assessed through specific checklists, and to maternal psychopathology, measured through the SCL-90-R. Four EA patterns were identified: (a) “low functioning dyads” (b) “low functioning mother with inconsistent child”, (c) “inconsistent mother with low functioning child”, and (d) “functioning dyads.” These patterns presented significant differences with respect to clinical variables inherent SUD and pregnancy, and marginally significant differences with respect to psychopathology. These findings make a contribution to the understanding of mother-child interactions in the context of maternal substance use disorder. Implications for assessment and treatment will be discussed.