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Longitudinal changes in attachment patterns of preterm infants born in a non-Western country

P Zengin Akkus1, B Bahtiyar Saygan2, E Ilter Bahadur1

  • 1Division of Developmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Infant Mental Health Journal
|January 7, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Very preterm infants showed fewer insecure attachment patterns over time. Developmental progress, not preterm birth itself, may influence mother-child attachment security.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Perinatal Health
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Early birth can impact mother-child attachment.
  • Longitudinal studies are needed to understand attachment in preterm infants, especially in non-Western contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare mother-infant attachment patterns in very preterm (VPT), preterm (PT), and term-born infants.
  • To investigate the influence of neurodevelopment, maternal mental health, and sociodemographics on attachment.
  • To track changes in attachment patterns over the first two years of corrected age.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study involving 18 VPT, 11 PT, and 11 term infants and their mothers.
  • Attachment patterns observed at 18 and 24 months corrected age.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcomes, maternal anxiety/depression, and sociodemographics assessed.

Main Results:

  • VPT infants demonstrated a trend towards less insecure attachment by 24 months corrected age.
  • Motor and language scores correlated with attachment at 18 months, but this association weakened by 24 months.
  • Maternal factors and sociodemographics were evaluated for their impact on attachment.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm birth alone may not be a primary risk for insecure attachment.
  • Developmental delays, rather than prematurity itself, appear linked to insecure attachment patterns.
  • Interventions promoting preterm infant development may enhance mother-child attachment security.

Keywords:
Angststörungssymptome der MutterDevelopmental outcomesEntwicklungs-OutcomesFrühgeburtMaternal anxietyMaternal depressive symptomsMother-infant attachment patternsMutter-Kind-BindungsmusterPreterm birthansiedad maternadepressive Symptome der Mutterdevelopmental outcomesmaternal anxietymaternal depressive symptomsmother-infant attachment patternsnacimiento prematuronon-Western contextpatrones de afectividad madre-infantepreterm birthresultados de desarrollosíntomas depresivos maternosأنماط التعلق بين الأم والطفل، الولادة المبتسرة، نتائج النمو، قلق الأم، أعراض الاكتئاب الأمومي产妇抑郁症状产妇焦虑症发育水平早产早産母婴依恋模式母子の愛着パターン母親の不安母親の抑うつ症状発達転帰

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