PREDICTORS OF ROLE IDENTITY AND ROLE ATTAINMENT IN MOTHERS OF PREMATURE INFANTS.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 165
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify whether stress, social support, maternal age and infant birthweight contributed to role identity and role attainment in mothers of premature infants: (1) when the infant was being discharged from the hospital and maternal caretaking had been limited, and (2) when the infant had been home for four weeks and maternal caretaking had increased. Prior work implied that mothers of term infants had achieved a level of psychological preparedness. Similar information was needed about mothers of premature infants.

The framework guiding this study proposed that the mother who experiences the birth of a premature infant has the normal process of maternal role development interrupted. This stressor is unwanted and unpredicted change. Maternal age and infant birthweight also interact with these stressors leading to stress in the role of parent, a role for which the mother is not yet ready. If the mother receives social support during this time, she has less stress in the role of parent and therefore, is able to achieve the transition to the role of mother.

Sixty-six primiparous mothers between 18 and 37 years of age participated in this descriptive study which collected data using cross-sectional and repeated measures approaches. Demographic data were collected on mothers and infants. Study variables were measured with the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Myself as Mother Scale, My Baby Scale, Gratification in the Mothering Role Scale and Parenting Stress Index. The research questions were analyzed using multiple regression and repeated measures ANOVA.

Results indicated that stress and social support, significantly predicted maternal role identity at infant discharge from the hospital and four weeks after discharge. Role attainment was significantly predicted by perceived stress and parenting stress four weeks after discharge. Decreases over time occurred in perceived stress, social support and maternal evaluation of baby. These decreases were not statistically significant. The primary implication of this study for nurses is that they can be instrumental in assessing stress levels and improving the support systems of these mothers.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-12, Section: B, page: 6225.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1992.

School code: 0227.