OLDER PRIMIPAROUS WOMEN. THE EVOLUTION OF MATERNAL SELF PERCEPTION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF MOTHER-DAUGHTER AND SPOUSAL RELATIONSHIPS.
Contributors: University of California, San Francisco.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 491
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study sought to describe the evolution of maternal self-perception for older primiparous women within the context of the mother-daughter and spousal relationships. Object relations theory and family systems theory were combined to provide the theoretical framework. A longitudinal design using triangulation of methods and data sources was employed.

A sample of 19 primiparous women aged 30 to 42 were tested during first and third trimester of pregnancy. A control group of 19 primiparous women were interviewed at third trimester only to determine whether testing effects might have occurred. In addition the sample included 25 spouses and 18 grandmothers-to-be. Older primiparous women participated in semi-structured, tape recorded interviews, responded to a projective instrument and completed three self-report measures. The pregnant women's mothers participated in a semi-structure interview and the fathers-to-be completed a self-report measure.

Qualitative and quantitative data confirmed the presence of conflict during first pregnancy. Conflict declined significantly over the course of the pregnancy along the dimensions of: pregnancy acceptance, identification of self as a potential mother, relationship with mother and relationship with spouse. Simultaneously there was a significant increase in marital cohesion for wives and an increase in positive interpersonal affect. At third trimester, women tested late in pregnancy only had significantly more conflict than women tested at both time periods suggesting a testing and/or intervention effect. The difference between groups was noted in the quantitiative data analysis but, the two groups could not be differentiated on the basis of interview or TAT data. All women in the sample followed one of several trajectories, Pattern Binding, Pattern Bending or Pattern Breaking, whereby resolution of mother-daughter conflict was mediated. Fifty-two percent of the sample was classified as Pattern Benders at third trimester, a trajectory associated with internalization of a "good enough" mother. Women were unable to completely integrate the mother self into their sense of themselves prior to the infant's birth.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-04, Section: B, page: 1092.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, 1988.

School code: 0034.