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Maternal and paternal infant representations: a comparison between parents of term and preterm infants.
Infant Behav Dev. 2014 Aug; 37(3):366-79.IB

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Research on parental attachment representations after preterm birth is limited and inconclusive. The present study is the first in which maternal and paternal attachment representations after term, moderately and very preterm birth are compared. In addition, special attention was directed toward disrupted attachment representations.

METHOD

Mothers and fathers of term infants (≥ 37 weeks of gestational age, n=71), moderately preterm infants (≥ 32-37 weeks of gestational age, n=62) and very preterm infants (<32 weeks of gestational age, n=56) participated in the present study. Attachment representations (balanced, disengaged, distorted) about their infants were evaluated with the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI). To asses disrupted representations the coding of the WMCI was extended with the disrupted scale (WMCI-D).

RESULTS

The three main classifications of attachment representations were not affected by preterm birth. In addition, there were no gender differences in the rate of balanced representations. In case of non-balanced representations however, maternal representations were more often distorted, whereas fathers showed more often disengaged representations. Results further revealed that maternal disrupted attachment representations were marked by role/boundary confusion or disorientation, whereas paternal disrupted attachment representations were characterized by withdrawal.

CONCLUSION

Given the gender differences it is essential to tailor interventions according to the attachment representations of the parent, in order to be able to alter their non-balanced and/or disrupted attachment representations.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Tooten A
International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Tilburg University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: vip@uvt.nl.
Hall RA
Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Hoffenkamp HN
International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Braeken J
Research Methodology Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
Vingerhoets AJ
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
van Bakel HJ
Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, The Netherlands; Centre for Infant Mental Health, Dimence, Deventer, The Netherlands; Herlaarhof, Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Vught, The Netherlands.

MeSH

AdultAnxietyFather-Child RelationsFathersFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureLongitudinal StudiesMaleMother-Child RelationsMothersObject AttachmentSex CharacteristicsSex Factors

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

24887535

Citation

Tooten, Anneke, et al. "Maternal and Paternal Infant Representations: a Comparison Between Parents of Term and Preterm Infants." Infant Behavior & Development, vol. 37, no. 3, 2014, pp. 366-79.
Tooten A, Hall RA, Hoffenkamp HN, et al. Maternal and paternal infant representations: a comparison between parents of term and preterm infants. Infant Behav Dev. 2014;37(3):366-79.
Tooten, A., Hall, R. A., Hoffenkamp, H. N., Braeken, J., Vingerhoets, A. J., & van Bakel, H. J. (2014). Maternal and paternal infant representations: a comparison between parents of term and preterm infants. Infant Behavior & Development, 37(3), 366-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2014.05.004
Tooten A, et al. Maternal and Paternal Infant Representations: a Comparison Between Parents of Term and Preterm Infants. Infant Behav Dev. 2014;37(3):366-79. PubMed PMID: 24887535.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Maternal and paternal infant representations: a comparison between parents of term and preterm infants. AU - Tooten,Anneke, AU - Hall,Ruby A S, AU - Hoffenkamp,Hannah N, AU - Braeken,Johan, AU - Vingerhoets,Ad J J M, AU - van Bakel,Hedwig J A, Y1 - 2014/06/02/ PY - 2013/06/14/received PY - 2014/02/24/revised PY - 2014/05/04/accepted PY - 2014/6/3/entrez PY - 2014/6/3/pubmed PY - 2014/12/15/medline KW - Attachment representations KW - Disrupted attachment representations KW - Fathers KW - Mothers KW - Preterm birth SP - 366 EP - 79 JF - Infant behavior & development JO - Infant Behav Dev VL - 37 IS - 3 N2 - OBJECTIVE: Research on parental attachment representations after preterm birth is limited and inconclusive. The present study is the first in which maternal and paternal attachment representations after term, moderately and very preterm birth are compared. In addition, special attention was directed toward disrupted attachment representations. METHOD: Mothers and fathers of term infants (≥ 37 weeks of gestational age, n=71), moderately preterm infants (≥ 32-37 weeks of gestational age, n=62) and very preterm infants (<32 weeks of gestational age, n=56) participated in the present study. Attachment representations (balanced, disengaged, distorted) about their infants were evaluated with the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI). To asses disrupted representations the coding of the WMCI was extended with the disrupted scale (WMCI-D). RESULTS: The three main classifications of attachment representations were not affected by preterm birth. In addition, there were no gender differences in the rate of balanced representations. In case of non-balanced representations however, maternal representations were more often distorted, whereas fathers showed more often disengaged representations. Results further revealed that maternal disrupted attachment representations were marked by role/boundary confusion or disorientation, whereas paternal disrupted attachment representations were characterized by withdrawal. CONCLUSION: Given the gender differences it is essential to tailor interventions according to the attachment representations of the parent, in order to be able to alter their non-balanced and/or disrupted attachment representations. SN - 1934-8800 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/24887535/Maternal_and_paternal_infant_representations:_a_comparison_between_parents_of_term_and_preterm_infants_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -