Social proximity in Swedish mother-daughter and mother-son interactions in infancy.

• This study investigated free play interactions between 20 Swedish mothers andtheir infants (11 boys and nine girls) at 9 and 14 months of age. Higher degrees of socialproximity within mother± daughters dyads were found, as compared to mother± son dyads.Mothers with daughters also displayed more physical contact at 9 months and scored higher onmaternal sensitivity at 14 months, as compared to mothers of boys. Higher degrees of socialpromixity (combined infant and mother scores) were found at 14 months of age, as comparedto 9 months. These findings suggest that despite the high level of gender equality promoted inSwedish society, Swedish mothers treat girls differently from boys.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Mother & Child

equality

Sweden

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)