Preterm infant-parent dyads are disproportionately represented in samples of infants who have failed to thrive and of children who nave been neglected and/or abused. This finding suggests that the effect of prematurity on the interactive process between an infant and parent places the dyad at risk for developing relationship problems. The specifics as to why a premature birth has the potential disruptive effect on a dyadic relationship is examined in this article. The early origins of social interactions for preterm dyads are analyzed with respect toa) important theoretical concepts about dyadic interactive processes,b) characteristics that the preterm infant and parent each bring to bear on the interactive process, and c) early first-year interactive patterns manifested by preterm dyads as compared to full-term dyads. Finally, the implications for nursing research and clinical practice are discussed.