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

Abstract

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.

It is proposed that the birth of a fullterm infant is a clearly positive event around which a more tightly knit network can coalesce to support the mother. The birth of a preterm infant is a less clearly positive event which leaves network members unsure of their roles and how to respond. Under such circumstances, a network with fewer ties between family of origin and friends decreases the likelihood of ambiguous or stressful communications.