Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

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

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.5K

Prematurity, temperament, physical wellbeing and maternal mental health in a low-income sample

Jesseca Perlman1, Samantha Burns2, Esther Yu1

  • 1Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6, Canada.

Infant Behavior & Development
|April 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Infant anger impacts maternal mental health, while fear and injuries affect it less for preterm infants. Targeted support for mothers, regardless of birth timing, can improve wellbeing.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Developmental psychology
  • Global health

Background:

  • Preterm birth is a global concern, yet moderate-to-late preterm birth outcomes remain understudied.
  • Research has historically prioritized extreme prematurity, leaving gaps in understanding developmental and psychological impacts of later preterm births.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between infant temperament, physical wellbeing, and maternal mental health in a low-income sample.
  • To examine whether moderate-to-late prematurity moderates these associations.

Main Methods:

  • A matched case-control study involving 100 low-income mothers (50 preterm, 50 full-term) with infants aged 12-18 months.
  • Data collected on maternal stress, anxiety, depression, infant temperament (anger, fear), and physical health indicators.
  • Statistical analyses to assess relationships and moderation effects of prematurity.

Main Results:

  • Infant anger significantly correlated with poorer maternal mental health across all births.
  • Infant fear and minor injuries were linked to worse maternal mental health, but this association was weaker in mothers of preterm infants.
  • Findings suggest differential maternal experiences based on infant prematurity status.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted support for mothers of preterm infants may be beneficial.
  • Extending similar support to mothers of full-term infants could enhance perinatal mental wellbeing universally.
  • Addressing infant temperament and health is crucial for maternal mental health.

Keywords:
Infant temperamentInfant wellbeingLow income familiesMaternal mental healthPrematurity

More Related Videos

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants06:39

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

3.9K
Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model04:20

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model

Published on: July 12, 2024

3.0K

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
1.4K
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...
371
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
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
756
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience01:18

Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience

Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
254
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
48