MATERNAL-INFANT RESPONSES TO HOME APNEA MONITORING.
Contributors: University of Utah.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 245
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The research sought to describe types of upset experienced by the mothers (n = 74), parenting behaviors, and infant development and behavior (n = 74). The goal was to identify characteristics of maternal upset that may be associated with developmental and behavioral problems in monitored infants.

For this retrospective study, a 1-group descriptive design was employed, using both qualitative and quantitative analyses. The qualitative component provided the context analyses of unstructured interviews with the mothers. The quantitative component consisted of mothers' responses to rating scales on parenting behaviors, infant behavior and stress. Quantitative assessments of infant development and the environment were conducted by the investigator. Other variables analyzed were social support, duration of monitoring and modifying factors (parents' age, education, occupation, religion and marital status).

Six instruments were utilized to answer the research questions. The Parental Experiences Interview was an unstructured interview used to assess mothers' experiences during monitoring. Two rating scales constructed by the investigator were used to assess infant behavior and parenting practices. Stressful life events were assessed by the standardized UTAH (IVS) rating scale. Infant development was assessed by the standardized Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID), and the home environment was assessed through the standardized HOME scale.

The analyses demonstrated four major findings. The first finding was a description of nine categories of upset experienced by mothers of monitored infants. Second, mothers who felt less positive about parenting had infants with lower scores of infant development and more behavioral problems. Third, longer duration of monitoring was significantly related to mothers who were unsupported and fearful. Fourth, lack of support was significantly related to high levels of maternal upset, longer duration of monitoring, mothers who felt less positive about parenting, lower scores of infant development and high incidence of infant behavior problems. Suggestions are given for formulation of nursing interventions that may assist families of monitored infants, as well as suggestions for further research.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-12, Section: B, page: 4825.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, 1986.

School code: 0240.