Stress as a Predictor of the Quality of Parent-Infant Interactions

Abstract

Three predictor variables--vulnerability to stress, expectations for parenting stress, and low power attributions--were assessed for 21 couples during pregnancy. In-home observations of parent-infant interactions occurred 4 months postnatally. Stepwise multiple regression analyses, calculated separately for mothers and fathers, revealed that prenatal stress factors were more successful in predicting father-infant interactions. On the interaction variable basic care, 67% of the variance was explained by fathers' parenting stress expectations, stress vulnerability, and attributions for low power, whereas only 2% of the variance on basic care was explained by maternal scores on the same variables. Results of this study indicated that parent-infant interactions are affected by parental attitudes and personality characteristics. The present research also underscored the continued need to study the differential effects of gender on parent-infant interactions.

Differences in Parenting Stress between Married and Single First Time Mothers at Six to Eight Weeks After Birth

“…The mother's perception of stress and the degree of role ambiguity in the mothering role also may affect the mother's transition to parenthood (Gage & Christensen, 1991;Reece & Harkless, 1998). Furthermore, the emotional state and attitude of the mother may influence the quality of the mother-infant interaction (Blank, Schroeder, & Flynn, 1995;Noppe et al, 1990).…”

“…Also, mothers who report more stress in the parenting role are more likely to view their infants as difficult to care for (Mulsow, Caldera, Pursley, Reifman, & Huston, 2002). Conversely, other studies indicate that mothers with low levels of parenting stress view parenting as a challenge and report more (a) personality strength (Levy-Shiff et al, 1998;Younger, 1991), (b) social support and self-efficacy (Harrison & Magill-Evans, 1996;Reece & Harkless, 1998), and (c) positive attitudes towards taking care of an infant (Noppe et al, 1990).…”

“…The literature is clear on this point: The quality of parenting is a critical factor in long and shortterm child well being (Belsky, 1984;Bowlby, 1969). Further, it has been verified that mother-infant interaction may be affected negatively by parenting stress, which can then interfere with the quality of the child's developmental functioning (Crnic & Acevedo, 1995;Noppe, Noppe, & Hughes, 1990).…”

Influences of maternal postpartum depression on fathers and on father–infant interaction

“…Parentinfant interaction is influenced by the behaviors, attitudes, and mental well-being of each individual in the dyad as well as the environmental and contextual sources of stress and support. Factors that can impede or impair parent-infant interaction include social support, parental depression, stress, marital dissatisfaction, infant characteristics such as health status and temperament, and the physical environment (Broom, 1998a(Broom, , 1998bBryan, 2000;Foss, Hirose, & Barnard, 1999;Leitch, 1999;Noppe, Noppe, & Hughes, 1990).…”

Stress and support as related to postpartum paternal mental health and perceptions of the infant

“…However, this research did not investigate whether such stressors are related to paternal psychological well-being or the father -infant relationship. One study by Noppe, Noppe, & Hughes (1991) found that fathers whose prenatal personality profiles suggested greater vulnerability to stress were less likely to be involved in basic infant care.…”