The effects of the Newborn Behavioural Observation approach on mothers’ curiosity and interest in interpreting their infants’ mental states

The purpose of the current study was to assess whether the application of the Newborn Behavioural Observation (NBO) approach would affect mothers’ self-rated curiosity and interest in interpreting their infants’ mental states after controlling for maternal-foetal attachment. The sample comprised 60 expectant mothers that were evenly divided into two groups. Mothers in the intervention group received post-natal care as usual as well as the NBO intervention which was administered by a specialist in family nursing, while mothers in the control group received post-natal care, as usual, that was administered by a nurse. The results show that mothers in the control group scored significantly higher on the curiosity and interest questions than did mothers in the intervention group after controlling for maternal-foetal attachment. The study failed to detect any effects of the NBO on mothers’ self-rated curiosity and interest in interpreting their infants’ mental states. However, it opens up new avenues of research on the effects of the NBO on different aspects of mothers understanding and interest of their infant’s behaviour, beyond the external. Furthermore, this study could be a valuable step in expanding the knowledge on the full reach of the NBO approach’s effects and limitations. Keywords: Newborn Behavioural Observation, NBO, curiosity, mental states, mother, infant

Author dc:creator

• Sólrún Erlingsdóttir 1991-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Sálfræði
• Ungbörn
• Hugfræði
• Tilfinningar
• Psychology
• Newborn infants
• Cognitive psychology
• Curiosity

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1946/33292

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/33292