Maternal Depression and Stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Associations With Mother-Child Interactions at Age 5 Years.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Previous studies suggest that maternal postpartum mental health issues may have an impact on parenting and child development in preterm infants, but have often not measured symptomatology in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or followed families through early childhood. This study examines how maternal depressive symptoms and stress in the NICU are related to parenting behaviors at age 5 years, in mothers of children born very preterm (at ≤30 weeks' gestation).

Method

This longitudinal study followed a diverse sample of 74 very preterm children and their mothers. Maternal depression and stress were assessed in the NICU. At age 5, mother-child dyads were observed and coded for maternal intrusiveness, negativity, sensitivity, and positivity. Other covariates, i

SUBMITTER: Gerstein ED 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6414066 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature