Infants' home environments: a comparison of high-risk families and families from the general population.

Home environments of 30 infants at high-risk for developmental retardation were compared with those of 30 infants from the general population (matched for age, sex, and parity) by means of the Home Observation Measurement of the Environment. Fifteen high-risk infants attended a day-care intervention program; 15 did not. The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment showed significant differences (ps less than .001) between the high-risk groups and the general population, favoring the general population, on all factors (maternal-warmth, absence of restriction and punishment, organization of the environment, appropriate toys, maternal involvement, and opportunities for variety) but none between the two high-risk groups.