Effects of Stress and Social Support on Mothers and Premature and Full-Term Infants

Abstract

This study examined the relationships of stress and social support to maternal attitudes and early mother-infant interactive behavior. 52 mother-premature infant pairs and 53 mother-full-term infant pairs were seen for structured home interviews at 1 month, and behavioral interactions at 4 months. Maternal life stress, social support, life satisfaction, and satisfaction with parenting were assessed at the 1-month home visit. Although no group differences were found, both stress and support significantly predicted maternal attitudes at 1 month and interactive behavior at 4 months when data were pooled. Mothers with greater stress were less positive in their attitudes and behavior, while mothers with greater support were significantly more positive. Intimate support proved to have the most general positive effects. Additionally, social support moderated the adverse effects of stress on mother's life satisfaction and on several behavioral variables. Maternal social support was further found to have several significant effects on infant interactive behavior. Results are discussed in terms of the ecological significance of social support to parenting and infants' early development.

Risk factors for disruption in primary caregiving among infants of substance abusing women

“…Thus, the DC group of women had greater stressors in their life and were coping less adequately with their addiction than the nonDC group. Maternal stress and lack of social support can interfere with parenting, even when drug abuse is not present (Crnic, Greenberg, Ragozin, Robinson, & Basham, 1983;Crockenberg, 1981;Stevens, 1988). Drug abusing women who are under high levels of stress may be even less able to take advantage of available resources.…”

“…Intervention programs should be comprehensive, theoretically based on adaptive models of parenting, focus on maternal needs, and provide psychosocial support and parenting skills to women and their families, not just referral to drug treatment (Black et al, 1994;Olds, 1992;Olds & Kitzman, 1990). In addition, interventions must involve the family, as defined by the mother, because the support provided by the family is often crucial for the well-being of both mothers and children and should be well coordinated with other service systems to ensure access to medical care and social services (Crnic, Greenberg, Ragozin, Robinson, & Basham, 1983;Crockenberg, 1981;Stevens, 1988).…”

Mothers of undernourished Jamaican children have poorer psychosocial functioning and this is associated with stimulation provided in the home

“…Lack of social support and high levels of stressors have also been found to be associated with poor parenting behaviours (Crnic et al, 1983;Burchinal et al, 1996). There is little information on the level of social support and stressors experienced by mothers of undernourished children in developing countries.…”

Predictors of Development In Premature Infants From Low-Income Families: African Americans and Hispanics

“…However, factors, such as social support, maternal confidence, and mother-infant interaction, have not been routinely assessed in combination with other factors, although individually they have been found to influence child development. [12][13][14] More significantly, no published study has yet compared the influence of such factors on the development of LBW infants from different ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to examine a variety of factors that could influence outcome and to determine how these factors may exert different influences on infants from two different ethnic backgrounds.…”

“…These variables were selected because they have been reported in the literature to affect the long-term development of premature infants. 6,10,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] …”