A Norwegian prospective study of preterm mother–infant interactions at 6 and 18 months and the impact of maternal mental health problems, pregnancy and birth complications

Abstract

ObjectivePregnancy, birth and health complications, maternal mental health problems following preterm birth and their possible impact on early mother–infant interaction at 6 and 18 months corrected age (CA) were explored. Predictors of mother–infant interaction at 18 months CA were identified.Design and methodsThis prospective longitudinal and observational study included 33 preterm mother–infant (<33 gestational age (GA)) interactions at 6 and 18 months CA from a socioeconomic low-risk, middle-class sample. The Parent–Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA) scale was used to assess the mother–infant interaction.Results‘Bleeding in pregnancy’ predicted lower quality in preterm mother–infant interaction in 6 PCERA scales, while high ‘maternal trait anxiety’ predicted higher interactional quality in 2 PCERA scales and ‘family size’ predicted lower interactional quality in 1 PCERA scale at 18 months CA. Mothers with symptoms of post-traumatic stress reactions, general psychological distress and anxiety at 2 weeks postpartum (PP) showed significantly better outcome than mothers without symptoms in 6 PCERA subscales at 6 months CA and 2 PCERA subscales at 18 months CA.ConclusionsOur study detected a correspondence between early pregnancy complications and lower quality of preterm mother–infant interaction, and an association between high levels of maternal mental health problems and better quality in preterm mother–infant interaction.

Prevalence of anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS) among the parents of babies admitted to neonatal units: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A description of the included studies is provided in Table 1 . In total, 21 studies, published in 24 records, 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 reported prevalence of anxiety among 3,639 parents. The sample sizes varied from 29 to 600 participants.…”

“…The sample sizes varied from 29 to 600 participants. Five studies enrolled both mothers and fathers; 24 , 33 , 35 , 40 , 43 15 studies, published in 18 records, included mothers only; 22 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 One study included only fathers. Study characteristics…”

“…The eligibility criteria differed across the included studies. Gestational age (GA) at birth was a specified inclusion criterion in 12 studies, published in 13 records 24 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 45 but GA criteria differed across studies: <30 weeks; 43 , 44 <32 weeks; 27 , 32 <33 weeks; 38 , 39 <34 weeks; 41 <37 weeks; 25 , 28 , 45 , 46 23 weeks to full-term . 24,36,37 GA was not reported in one study.…”

“…Clinical interviews were used in one study, 33 self-report scales were used in 19 studies published in 21 records, 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 and both clinical interview and self-report scale were used in one study reported in two records. 38 , 39 Six different self-report scales were used to assess anxiety, most commonly the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Even when the same self-report scale was used, there was variation in the cut-off points reported.…”

“…Only one study, reported in two records, 38 , 39 including 27 participants assessed prevalence of anxiety more than one year after birth. No participant in the sample scored above the cut-off for clinically significant symptoms.…”