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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Parental perceptions of infant vulnerability in a preterm sample: prediction from maternal adaptation to parenthood

Douglas M Teti1, Christine Reiner Hess, Melissa O'Connell

  • 1Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. dteli@psu.edu

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|August 16, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Maternal adaptation before hospital discharge predicts perceptions of infant vulnerability in mothers of preterm infants. Early feeding self-inefficacy is a strong predictor of later vulnerability concerns.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Psychology
  • Maternal-Infant Bonding
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Preterm infants present unique challenges for maternal adaptation.
  • Early maternal adaptation influences long-term maternal-infant relationship dynamics.
  • Perceptions of infant vulnerability can impact maternal well-being and infant care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test if maternal adaptation before infant hospital discharge predicts later perceptions of infant vulnerability.
  • To identify specific maternal adaptation factors that predict infant vulnerability perceptions.
  • To explore the role of maternal self-efficacy in this prediction.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study design.
  • Involved African-American mothers of preterm infants.
  • Assessed maternal adaptation during the neonatal period and infant vulnerability perceptions at 3-4 months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • Maternal perceptions of infant lethargy and unresponsiveness predicted infant vulnerability.
  • Low maternal self-efficacy beliefs regarding infant feeding were strong predictors of later infant vulnerability perceptions.
  • Neonatal maternal self-inefficacy in feeding robustly predicted later vulnerability perceptions.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal adaptation to parenthood before infant discharge is a significant predictor of infant vulnerability perceptions.
  • Clinicians can identify at-risk mothers by assessing early adaptation, particularly feeding self-efficacy.
  • Early interventions focusing on maternal adaptation may mitigate later infant vulnerability concerns.

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