IMPLEMENTATION OF A NURSING TOUCH INTERVENTION AND POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSOCIAL CHANGES IN PRIMIPARAS.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 276
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Behavioral.; Health Sciences, Education.
Description: The purposes of this descriptive study were to implement a touch nursing intervention to enhance mother-infant relationships and describe subjects' psychosocial changes during the first four months postpartum. Twenty healthy mother and baby couples were provided the intervention and home visits by nurses. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed.

Rubin's conceptual framework of binding-in was not supported. The program promoting touch appeared to make no difference, though nursing care made positive contributions.

Over the first four months postpartum, maternal self-esteem and confidence improved, anxiety decreased, labor attitudes and knowledge of infant abilities diminished, and no depression was found at either testing. Between four and ten weeks postpartum, mothers' attitudes about themselves as mothers and their babies changed little, as did mother-infant interaction during the observed feeding sessions. Qualitative descriptions of individual differences in postpartum adaptation and relationship development were observed. Specific maternal tasks that emerged were identified.

Improved mother-infant interaction was significantly correlated with shorter labors, tendency away from depression, greater knowledge of infant abilities, greater anxiety, and better maternal attitudes about self as mother. Mothers' attitudes toward their babies did not affect interaction at either testing. Better maternal attitudes toward their babies were significantly correlated with greater self-esteem, better labor attitude, and better attitudes about self as mother. Socioeconomic status and educational level had no effect on maternal attitudes or interaction in this high socioeconomic group.

Among conclusions is the view that particular contextual variables, labor and infant characteristics, and distinguishing maternal psychological qualities are correlated with maternal-attitudes and mother-infant interaction which may be established soon after birth and remain moderately stable. It is recommended that care providers endeavor to offer care based on particular identifiable individual differences.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-08, Section: B, page: 4029.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1992.

School code: 0227.
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