SOCIAL SUPPORT AND RELATIONSHIP EXPECTATIONS IN MOTHERS OF SICK AND WELL NEWBORNS.
Contributors: Indiana University School of Nursing.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 243
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Developmental.
Description: The purpose of the study was to investigate if social support and fulfillment of relationship expectations were related to personal outcomes and quality of relationships for mothers of sick and well newborns. The study tested Levitt's model of close relationships and drew upon Kahn's and Antonucci's work in social support. Emphasis was placed on two support figures: the person identified by the mother as the closest or most important in her network, and one nurse, perceived by the mother as closest or most important in that role.

The sample was composed of 83 new mothers, including 47 mothers of NICU infants and 36 mothers of healthy newborns. Both interview and questionnaire techniques were utilized during home visits conducted at two to five weeks after birth.

Results indicated that women with greater fulfillment of expectations for the close person and the nurse had more positive personal outcomes in selected areas. Both close person support and support from the nurse were positively correlated with selected outcomes. Receiving support from the close person was found to have a more positive effect upon personal outcomes than receiving support from the total network. Fulfillment of relationship expectations for the close person had an independent effect on personal outcomes, above and beyond the effect of social support. The buffering hypothesis regarding social support and stress was partially supported, with women under higher stress experiencing a greater effect of close support on two out of five outcomes.

These results suggest that maternal-child nurses need to consider the importance of social support from one close network member on the well-being of the new mother. The concept of expectations for interpersonal relationships was shown to be a relevant one both in regard to the close person and the nurse.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-08, Section: B, page: 3395.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1988.

School code: 0815.