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Firstborns' behaviors during a mother's second pregnancy
1School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Nursing Research
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Maternal pregnancy stages impact preschooler behavior. Children of expectant mothers showed fewer distress behaviors, with notable differences in autonomy and anger expression between sexes and age groups during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Maternal stress during pregnancy can influence child development.
- Understanding behavioral responses in children of expectant mothers is crucial for prenatal and postnatal care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine distress and autonomy behaviors in preschool children based on their mothers' pregnancy status (expectant vs. non-expectant).
- To investigate how different stages of pregnancy affect children's behavioral responses.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 80 preschool children, divided into four groups: children of mothers in early, middle, or late pregnancy, and a control group of children with non-expectant mothers.
- Groups were balanced for age (18-36 months and 37-60 months) and sex.
- Distress and autonomy behaviors were assessed at various time points during pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Young firstborn girls exhibited more dependency early in pregnancy.
- Boys showed more anger and negative reactions to separation during middle and late pregnancy compared to girls.
- Children of mothers in early and middle pregnancy stages displayed fewer distress behaviors and less dependency than control groups.
Conclusions:
- Maternal pregnancy influences preschool children's distress and autonomy behaviors.
- Behavioral differences are sex-specific and stage-dependent during pregnancy.
- Interventions may be beneficial for supporting children during maternal pregnancy.