One hundred and twenty, full-term, normal, first-born infants were categorized at one month of age into a high-risk or low-risk group for possible development of emotional and developmental deviations. The predictions were based on measurements of the mother's perception of her infant as compared to the average. At age 4 1/2, the children were evaluated by two child psychiatrists who had no knowledge of the children's predictive risk rating. A statistically significant association was evident between prediction and outcome. This paper describes the methodology and discusses the implications of the findings.
To our knowledge, this is one of the first pediatric studies to demonstrate that using a short, multifaceted educational module, it is possible to change DV screening practices and to increase identification of DV victims among pediatric residents, continuity clinic faculty, and certified-registered nurse practitioners at a pediatric teaching hospital.
This paper describes some of the findings from the most recent phase of a prospective longitudinal study of firstborns, begun in 1963, to determine the relationship between the primipara's perception of her neonate and the child's subsequent emotional development [1].Previous phases of the study, describing the methodology and discussing the implications of earlier findings, have been reported elsewhere [2, 3, 4] and will not be elaborated. However, some background information is indicated.
Method
SubjectsThe original study population consisted of 318 primiparas delivering single, full-term, normal, firstborn infants, weighing 2.41 kg (5 lbs. 5 ozs.) or more, in five Pittsburgh hospitals during a 21~-month period in 1963.The selection of a population of newborns, physically healthy during their hospital stay, ensured that the infants were within the range of normal endowment--thus, biologically equipped to elicit response from the mother and not handicapped in their ability to respond to the care of the mother.
Thirty-eight, healthy, full-term, first-born infants of adolescent mothers were assessed in a standardized laboratory setting using a modified Ainsworth Strange Situation procedure for assessing attachment. The security rate within this sample was 23.7% which differed considerably from that reported in most white middle class samples of approximately 55-65%. Within this sample, 31.6% were classified as insecure/disorganized which contrasts with 12% in middle class white samples reported by Main & Weston. A racial difference was evident. Fewer black infants were securely attached than were white. This paper presents the findings according to race, sex and age and discusses the implications.
The goal of the present study was to examine the predictive relation between an individual's newborn status, as rated with the Neonatal Perception Inventories (NPI), and his or her adult attachment organization, as rated with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). All participants (N = 26) had been healthy, full-term, singleton, first-born infants whose mothers were recruited during the immediate postpartum hospital stay. The NPI were collected during home visits made when infants were 4-6 weeks old. The AAI was administered 30 to 40 years later. The study hypothesis was that adult participants whose mothers had held negative perceptions of them as newborns would be more likely to be classified as insecure on the AAI than participants whose mothers had held positive perceptions of them. The study hypothesis was supported. A 2 (positive NPI vs. negative NPI) x 2 (secure AAI vs. insecure AAI) contingency table analysis indicated a highly significant connection between newborn NPI risk status and adult AAI classification, Fisher's exact test, p < .003, odds ratio = 18. As expected, negative maternal perception at 1-month old was associated with subsequent insecure adult attachment status.
In a controlled study, programs offering televised anticipatory guidance to primiparae during the immediate postpartum period were shown to have a beneficial effect on a mother's perceptions of her infant as measured by the Neonatal Perception Inventory (NPI). Among mothers viewing the programs, a significant increase occurred (P less than .01) in the number having a positive perception of their infants at age 1 month. Since the Neonatal Perception Inventory has proved a reliable indicator of a child's emotional well-being at age 4 1/2, televised guidance is recommended as an effective, economical measure with a potential for reducing the incidence of emotional disorder in children.
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