Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

3.8K

Implications of Preterm Birth for Maternal Mental Health and Infant Development

Cheryl Anderson1, Priscila Cacola

  • 1Cheryl Anderson is an Associate Professor, College of Nursing & Health Innovation, College of Nursing, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX. The author can be reached via e-mail at c.anderson@uta.edu Priscila Cacola is an Assistant Professor, College of Nursing & Health Innovation, Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX. The author can be reached via e-mail at cacola@uta.edu.

MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|November 24, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Maternal mental health issues like depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after preterm birth can impact infant development and mother-infant bonding. Early interventions are crucial for both maternal well-being and infant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Infant development
  • Mother-infant attachment

Background:

  • Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity, including developmental delays.
  • Maternal mental health issues, such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are common after preterm birth and affect maternal-infant bonding.
  • Maternal distress is a consistent factor influencing infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the relationship between maternal depression and PTSD following preterm birth, and their effects on mother-infant attachment and infant development.
  • To highlight the importance of prenatal and postpartum interventions for maternal mental health and infant outcomes.
  • To explore the role of PTSD, a condition gaining recent research attention, in impaired maternal-infant attachment and infant motor development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review examining studies on maternal mental health post-preterm birth.
  • Analysis of the impact of maternal depression and PTSD on mother-infant attachment.
  • Review of potential assessments and interventions for mothers and infants affected by preterm birth.

Main Results:

  • Maternal depression and PTSD are linked to impaired mother-infant attachment and can negatively affect infant development.
  • While depression has been extensively studied, the impact of PTSD on infant motor development requires further investigation.
  • Early mother-infant interactions are influenced by both prematurity and maternal mental health.

Conclusions:

  • Healthcare professionals must intervene prenatally and postpartum to address maternal distress, which significantly impacts infant development.
  • Home-based interventions that stimulate infant development and strengthen the mother-infant relationship may reduce maternal depression and PTSD symptoms.
  • Targeted interventions are essential for improving infant development and maternal well-being, fostering a healthier mother-infant dyad.

More Related Videos

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

28.1K
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.3K

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
1.0K
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
304
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
1.1K
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
551
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
7.3K
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
1.1K