Relationship disorders and cognitive functioning in young children

The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive functioning of young children with or without relationship disorders with their mother. Mother-infant dyads were recruited during the first three postpartum days. Parent Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scale (PIRGAS) scores and mother-child relationship disorders were decided when children were 41-49 months of age by integrating the data obtained from psychiatric interview with mothers, Clinical Problem Solving Procedure (CPSP) and home observation. Cognitive functioning of young children was evaluated with Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. The young children without relationship problems/disorders had higher intelligence quotient (IQ) scores even after controlling for the effect of independent variables on cognitive functioning. These findings suggest that there is a link between the quality of the mother-child relationship and cognitive functioning in young children. Therefore, physicians should assess the interactions of children with their mothers even if they are brought for reasons other than relationship problems.