The Stress-Feeding Model: An Integrated Biopsychosocial Model of Reciprocal Regulation Following Preterm Birth

Mothers of preterm infants experience sustained stress during neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization and the transition to home. Feeding represents one of the earliest caregiving contexts in which maternal stress and infant regulatory capacity converge, yet these processes are typically examined separately. This article proposes the stress-feeding model, an integrated biopsychosocial framework linking maternal stress appraisal, feeding behavior, infant physiological and behavioral regulation, and feedback to maternal perceived competence. The model conceptualizes feeding as a recurring regulatory micro-context and delineates recursive pathways through which maternal appraisal, caregiving behavior, and infant responses shape dyadic regulation. The framework generates testable propositions to guide research and nurse-led interventions.