Neonatal prediction and outcome at 10/11 years

Abstract

This paper describes some of the findings from the most recent phase of a prospective longitudinal study of firstborns, begun in 1963, to determine the relationship between the primipara's perception of her neonate and the child's subsequent emotional development [1].Previous phases of the study, describing the methodology and discussing the implications of earlier findings, have been reported elsewhere [2, 3, 4] and will not be elaborated. However, some background information is indicated. Method SubjectsThe original study population consisted of 318 primiparas delivering single, full-term, normal, firstborn infants, weighing 2.41 kg (5 lbs. 5 ozs.) or more, in five Pittsburgh hospitals during a 21~-month period in 1963.The selection of a population of newborns, physically healthy during their hospital stay, ensured that the infants were within the range of normal endowment--thus, biologically equipped to elicit response from the mother and not handicapped in their ability to respond to the care of the mother.

Mother-infant interaction as a function of maternal ratings of temperament

“…Thus, these data are consistent with findings from other studies using different measures and different populations which suggest that negative maternal perceptions of infant behavior may be associated with less than optimal patterns of mothering [8][9][10]. While these studies used primarily questionnaires and rating scales, the current study included independent observations of mother-infant interaction in the home at two points in time.…”

“…On the other hand, Bell and Ainsworth [71 have found a negative relationship between infant crying and maternal responsiveness. In a similar vein, Broussard [9,10] has reported that negative maternal perceptions of newborn behavior are associated with a higher incidence of later psychological problems in the offspring. More recently, Milliones [8] reported a correlation between maternal ratings of infant temperament and home visitor's ratings of maternal responsiveness.…”

Changes in Maternal Characteristics Are Predictive of Changes in Maternal Perception of Infant Temperament

“…Similarly, Campbell (1979) also found that the more negative the mother's perception of the infant's temperament, the less responsive she was to his or her crying; Campbell further suggested that lowered maternal responsiveness might have a persistent effect on the quality of caretaking. Broussard (1970Broussard ( , 1976 reported that negative maternal perceptions of infant temperament and behavior were associated with a higher incidence of later psychological problems in the child. The psychological sequelae of poor mother-infant interaction are well documented (Carew-Watts & Chan- Barnett, 1973;ClarkeStewart, 1973;Hess & Shipman, 1965), but whether negative maternal perceptions of the infant's temperament are themselves a problem or whether they serve as a marker for a larger problem is not known.…”

Mothers' assessments of term and pre-term infants with respiratory distress syndrome: Reliability and predictive validity

“…Reliability and validity testing of parent assessments have included comparisons between ratings by parents and clinicians on versions of the same measure, comparisons between parent ratings at different time periods, and comparisons between parent ratings and contemporaneous or later developmental measures. Data have been reported for the Neonatal Perception Inventories [10] suggesting that the primipara's perception of her neonate is predictive of her child's subsequent emotional development, for the Denver screening instruments suggesting that parents' ratings are correlated with clinicians' ratings on versions of the same measure [4,5], and for the Infant Temperament Questionnaire suggesting that parents' ratings of temperament are correlated with infant development patterns such as nightwaking [11], walking and talking [12].…”