[The intensity of anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in mothers and the cognitive development of...

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between anxiety, the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in mothers and hot and cool executive functions of their children who were born very prematurely.

The group consisted of 20 mothers and their children born before 32 weeks of pregnancy. The intensity of anxiety in mothers was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), while the severity of symptoms of PTSD was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R). Hot and cool executive functions were measured with the following tasks: Pencil tap, Balance beam, Toy sort, Toy wrap and Toy wait, from the: Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment (PSRA) battery.

The study showed that almost half of the women surveyed suffer from symptoms of PTSD, at least in moderate intensity. The most intense symptoms refer to the Intrusion factor. Analysis of the results showed that lower scores in hot executive functions are associated with higher anxiety - understood as a feature of mothers, severe Intrusion and Avoidance, and also the general indicator of PTSD.

1. Among mothers, whose prematurely born children were developing property in preschool period, as many as 45% experienced at least moderate symptoms of PTSD. 2. The intensity of PTSD symptoms and anxiety in mothers is associated with worse development of hot aspect of executive functions, related to the ability to delay gratification of their children. 3. The study draws attention to the need to monitor the mental state of a parent of prematurely born child.