Maternal Social Networks and Mother-Infant Interactions in Preterm and Fullterm Infants (Support, Density)

This study examined the relationship between maternal perceptions of their social networks and mother-infant interactions in 34 mother-preterm dyads and 20 mother-fullterm dyads at six months of age. All preterm infants were of very low birthweight and experienced medical complications. Mothers were interviewed regarding their perceptions of their social networks and ratings of maternal and infant behaviors were obtained from videotaped mother-infant interactions. There were few significant group differences on the various network characteristics. However, there were striking differences between the groups in the association between perceived structural characteristics of the networks and maternal sensitivity in the mother-infant interactions. More ties between family of origin and friends related to higher maternal sensitivity in fullterms, but to lower maternal sensitivity in preterms.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Zarling, Cynthia Louise

• Psychology, Clinical

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8521908

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/69660