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Maternal Distress (maternal + distress)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences58%
Humanities and Social Sciences33%

Selected Abstracts

Maternal Distress and Parenting in the Context of Cumulative Disadvantage

FAMILY PROCESS, Issue 2 2010
JOYCE ARDITTI PH.D.
To read this article's abstract in both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, please visit the article's full-text page on Wiley InterScience (http://interscience.wiley.com/journal/famp). This article presents an emergent conceptual model of the features and links between cumulative disadvantage, maternal distress, and parenting practices in low-income families in which parental incarceration has occurred. The model emerged from the integration of extant conceptual and empirical research with grounded theory analysis of longitudinal ethnographic data from Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study. Fourteen exemplar family cases were used in the analysis. Results indicated that mothers in these families experienced life in the context of cumulative disadvantage, reporting a cascade of difficulties characterized by neighborhood worries, provider concerns, bureaucratic difficulties, violent intimate relationships, and the inability to meet children's needs. Mothers, however, also had an intense desire to protect their children, and to make up for past mistakes. Although, in response to high levels of maternal distress and disadvantage, most mothers exhibited harsh discipline of their children, some mothers transformed their distress by advocating for their children under difficult circumstances. Women's use of harsh discipline and advocacy was not necessarily an "either/or" phenomenon as half of the mothers included in our analysis exhibited both harsh discipline and care/advocacy behaviors. Maternal distress characterized by substance use, while connected to harsh disciplinary behavior, did not preclude mothers engaging in positive parenting behaviors. RESUMEN Este artículo presenta un modelo conceptual emergente de las características y las conexiones entre la desventaja acumulada, la angustia materna, y las prácticas de crianza de los hijos en familias de bajos recursos donde uno de los padres ha estado encarcelado. El modelo surgió de la integración de investigaciones conceptuales y empíricas existentes con un análisis de muestreo teórico de datos etnográficos longitudinales tomados de Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study ("Bienestar, Niños y Familias: Un estudio en tres ciudades"). En el análisis se usaron catorce casos ejemplares de familias. Los resultados indicaron que las madres de estas familias vivían la vida en el contexto de desventaja acumulada, ya que describieron una cascada de dificultades caracterizadas por preocupaciones con respecto al barrio donde viven, preocupaciones por el sustento económico, dificultades burocráticas, relaciones íntimas violentas y la incapacidad de satisfacer las necesidades de sus hijos. Sin embargo, las madres también tenían un profundo deseo de proteger a sus hijos y de subsanar errores del pasado. Aunque, en respuesta a los niveles altos de angustia materna y desventaja, la mayoría de las madres demostraron una disciplina severa hacia sus hijos, algunas madres transformaron su angustia apoyando a sus hijos en circunstancias difíciles. El uso de disciplina severa y apoyo por parte de las mujeres no fue necesariamente un fenómeno excluyente, ya que la mitad de las madres analizadas demostraron tanto el uso de una disciplina severa como comportamientos de cuidado y apoyo. Si bien la angustia materna caracterizada por el abuso de sustancias estuvo conectada con el uso de una disciplina severa, no excluyó que las madres tuvieran comportamientos positivos en relación con la crianza de sus hijos Palabras clave: desventaja acumulada, angustia materna, crianza de los hijos, encarcelamiento de uno de los padres, disciplina [source]

Observer variance within families: confluence among maternal, paternal and child ratings

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2001
Dr Anne I.H. Borge
Abstract This paper examines patterns of agreement among different informants within the same family in order to determine the effects of maternal distress on the ratings of mothers and fathers. Mothers, fathers and children from a community cohort of 216 families with 13 to 15 years olds reported children's difficulties and strengths measured by the Rutter Revised Scale. The absolute scores on the children's ratings were higher than those of the fathers and mothers. The odds ratios for agreements between fathers and children ranged between 1.70 and 4.01 and for mother-child agreement between 0.83 and 3.40. There were no significant differences between the mothers and fathers in the extent of their agreement with their children. When mothers were emotionally distressed, there was a significantly higher level of emotional disturbance in the children according to the ratings of both mothers and fathers, but not according to children's ratings. There is value in obtaining paternal, as well as maternal and child, ratings of children's behaviour. Maternal distress affects the ratings of both parents, but not those of the children; the reasons for these effects require further study but they cannot be assumed to reflect rating bias. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]

Maternal distress: a concept analysis

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 9 2010
Elizabeth Emmanuel
emmanuel e. & st john w. (2010) Maternal distress: concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(9), 2104,2115. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of maternal distress. Background., Although not well-developed, the concept of maternal distress has offered an important viewpoint in nursing and midwifery practice since the mid-1990s. Traditionally, understanding of maternal distress has been based on the medical model and dysfunction. The concept of maternal distress needs development so that it describes responses ranging from normal stress responses to those indicating mental health problem/s. Data sources., The SCOPUS, CINAHL and Medline databases were searched for the period from 1995 to 2009 using the keywords ,psychological distress', ,emotional distress' and ,maternal distress'. Review methods., Steps from Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis guided the conduct of this concept analysis. Results., Four attributes of maternal distress were identified as responses to the transition to motherhood, with the level of each response occurring along a continuum: stress, adapting, functioning and control, and connecting. Antecedents to maternal distress include becoming a mother, role changes, body changes and functioning, increased demands and challenges, losses and gains, birth experiences, and changes to relationships and social context. The consequences of maternal distress are compromised mental health status, maternal role development, quality of life, ability to function, quality of relationships and social engagement. The extent of the impact depends on the level of maternal distress. Conclusion., Clearer interpretation of maternal distress offers a comprehensive approach to understanding maternal emotional health during the transition to motherhood. Acknowledging women's experiences and providing more appropriate support could alleviate some of the struggles and hardships experienced by mothers. [source]

Increased heart rate variability correlation between mother and child immediately pre-operation

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2009
Y.-C. P. ARAI
Background: Maternal distress would correlate with the children's mental status, thereby influencing the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) of the children and mothers. We hypothesized that pre-anesthetic maternal ANS activity, when approaching close to their children's operation time, would correlate with children's ANS activity, and that the values of heart rate variability (HRV) would correlate. Methods: We calculated maternal and children's HRVs and analyzed the relationship between the two. A total of 24 pairs of mother and child were analyzed. Maternal and children's HRVs were recorded from the night before the child's surgery to the arrival to the operation room. Results: The ratios of low-frequency components (LF) to high-frequency components (HF) (LF/HF ratio) of children's and maternal HRVs obtained during the immediate pre-operative period (06:00,08:00 hours) showed a significantly, positive correlation, but no correlation was found for the LF/HF ratios obtained during the pre-operative night. Conclusion: The LF/HF ratios of HRV immediately before surgery in children and mothers showed a significant positive correlation. [source]

Maternal Distress and Parenting in the Context of Cumulative Disadvantage

FAMILY PROCESS, Issue 2 2010
JOYCE ARDITTI PH.D.
To read this article's abstract in both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, please visit the article's full-text page on Wiley InterScience (http://interscience.wiley.com/journal/famp). This article presents an emergent conceptual model of the features and links between cumulative disadvantage, maternal distress, and parenting practices in low-income families in which parental incarceration has occurred. The model emerged from the integration of extant conceptual and empirical research with grounded theory analysis of longitudinal ethnographic data from Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study. Fourteen exemplar family cases were used in the analysis. Results indicated that mothers in these families experienced life in the context of cumulative disadvantage, reporting a cascade of difficulties characterized by neighborhood worries, provider concerns, bureaucratic difficulties, violent intimate relationships, and the inability to meet children's needs. Mothers, however, also had an intense desire to protect their children, and to make up for past mistakes. Although, in response to high levels of maternal distress and disadvantage, most mothers exhibited harsh discipline of their children, some mothers transformed their distress by advocating for their children under difficult circumstances. Women's use of harsh discipline and advocacy was not necessarily an "either/or" phenomenon as half of the mothers included in our analysis exhibited both harsh discipline and care/advocacy behaviors. Maternal distress characterized by substance use, while connected to harsh disciplinary behavior, did not preclude mothers engaging in positive parenting behaviors. RESUMEN Este artículo presenta un modelo conceptual emergente de las características y las conexiones entre la desventaja acumulada, la angustia materna, y las prácticas de crianza de los hijos en familias de bajos recursos donde uno de los padres ha estado encarcelado. El modelo surgió de la integración de investigaciones conceptuales y empíricas existentes con un análisis de muestreo teórico de datos etnográficos longitudinales tomados de Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study ("Bienestar, Niños y Familias: Un estudio en tres ciudades"). En el análisis se usaron catorce casos ejemplares de familias. Los resultados indicaron que las madres de estas familias vivían la vida en el contexto de desventaja acumulada, ya que describieron una cascada de dificultades caracterizadas por preocupaciones con respecto al barrio donde viven, preocupaciones por el sustento económico, dificultades burocráticas, relaciones íntimas violentas y la incapacidad de satisfacer las necesidades de sus hijos. Sin embargo, las madres también tenían un profundo deseo de proteger a sus hijos y de subsanar errores del pasado. Aunque, en respuesta a los niveles altos de angustia materna y desventaja, la mayoría de las madres demostraron una disciplina severa hacia sus hijos, algunas madres transformaron su angustia apoyando a sus hijos en circunstancias difíciles. El uso de disciplina severa y apoyo por parte de las mujeres no fue necesariamente un fenómeno excluyente, ya que la mitad de las madres analizadas demostraron tanto el uso de una disciplina severa como comportamientos de cuidado y apoyo. Si bien la angustia materna caracterizada por el abuso de sustancias estuvo conectada con el uso de una disciplina severa, no excluyó que las madres tuvieran comportamientos positivos en relación con la crianza de sus hijos Palabras clave: desventaja acumulada, angustia materna, crianza de los hijos, encarcelamiento de uno de los padres, disciplina [source]

The Ages & Stages Questionnaire: Social,Emotional: A validation study of a mother-report questionnaire on a clinical mother,infant sample,

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 4 2010
Björn Salomonsson
Mother-report questionnaires of infant socioemotional functioning are increasingly used to screen for clinical referral to infant mental health services. The validity of the Ages & Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional (ASQ:SE; J. Squires, D. Bricker, K. Heo, & E. Twombly, 2002) was investigated in a sample of help-seeking mothers with young infants. It was compared with independent observer-rated dyadic interactions, and the quality of dyadic relationships was rated by expert clinicians. The ASQ:SE ratings also were compared with questionnaires on maternal psychological stress and distress. The ASQ:SE did not correlate significantly with either external ratings of dyadic interaction or clinically assessed relationship qualities, though the latter two were strongly associated with each other. In contrast, ASQ:SE scores were associated with questionnaires relating to maternal psychological distress. This was especially true for mothers classified as depressed. Furthermore, reports on the ASQ:SE were strongly predicted by maternal stress. The study points to some problems with the concurrent validity of the ASQ:SE in clinical samples. It also demonstrates a close link between mothers' psychological distress and their ratings of infant social and emotional functioning. Further research should investigate the extent to which the ASQ:SE specifically measures infant functioning or maternal distress, and how it functions in clinical versus nonclinical samples. Los cuestionarios en que las madres reportan el funcionamiento socio-emocional del infante se están usando más para determinar la necesidad de referir a los servicios de salud mental infantil. Se investigó la validez del Cuestionario de Edades y Niveles: Socio-emocional (ASQ:SE) en un grupo muestra de madres con infantes pequeños las cuales buscaban ayuda. Al grupo se le comparó con las interacciones de las díadas evaluadas por un observador independiente, y con la calidad de las relaciones de las díadas evaluadas por clínicos expertos. Los puntajes del ASQ:SE también fueron comparados con cuestionarios sobre el estrés y la ansiedad maternales sicológicas. Resultados: el ASQ:SE no se correlacionó significativamente ni con los puntajes externos de la interacción de la díada ni con las cualidades de la relación evaluadas clínicamente, aunque ambas fueron asociadas fuertemente una con la otra. En contraste, los puntajes de ASQ:SE fueron asociados con cuestionarios que se referían a la ansiedad mental psicológica maternal. Esto resultó verdadero sobretodo en los casos de madres clasificadas como depresivas. Es más, el estrés maternal predijo fuertemente los reportes sobre el ASQ:SE. Este estudio apunta hacia ciertos problemas con la validez concurrente del ASQ:SE en muestras clínicas. El mismo demuestra una conexión cercana entre la ansiedad mental psicológica maternal y los puntajes que las madres les dan al funcionamiento social y emocional del infante. La investigación futura debe enfocarse en hasta qué punto el ASQ:SE mide específicamente el funcionamiento del infante o la ansiedad mental de la madre, y cómo el mismo funciona en muestras clínicas versus aquellas que no lo son. Les questionnaires "rapport de la mère" de fonctionnement social et émotionnel du nourrison sont de plus en plus utilisés pour tester les enfants afin de les envoyer consulter en services de santé mentale du nourrisson. La validité du questionnaire "âge et étapes: social et émotionnel" (en anglais Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social et Emotionnel, abrégé ASQ:SE en anglais) a été examinée chez un échantillon de mères de jeunes bébés cherchant de l'aide. Elle a été comparée à des interactions dyadiques évaluées par un observateur indépendant, la qualité des relations dyadiques étant évaluée par des cliniciens experts. Les évaluations ASQ:SE ont aussi été comparées aux questionnaires sur la détresse et le stress psychologique maternel. Résultats: Le questionnaire ASQ:SE n'a pas été fortement mis en corrélation avec soit les évaluations externes d'interaction dyadique soit les qualités de la relation évaluées cliniquement, bien que ces deux dernières aient été fortement liées les unes aux autres. Par contre, les scores ASQ:SE étaient liés aux questionnaires qui portaient sur la détresse psychologique maternelle. Ceci s'est surtout avéré vrai pour les mères classifiées comme déprimées. De plus, les rapports sur le ASQ:SE étaient frotement prédits par le stress maternel. Cette étude met en lumière certains problèmes avec la validité simultanée du questionnaire ASQ:SE dans les échantillons cliniques. Elle démontre aussi un lien étroit entre la détresse psychologique des mères et leurs évaluations du fonctionnement social et émotionnel du nourrisson. Des recherches plus approfondies devraient porter sur la mesure dans laquelle le questionnaire ASQ:SE mesure spécifiquement le fonctionnement du nourrisson ou la détresse maternelle, et comment il fonctionne dans des échantillons cliniques par rapport à non-cliniques. Fragebögen der sozial-emotionalen Funktionsweisen, die auf Elternurteilen beruhen, werden zunehmend zur Klärung der Frage eingesetzt, ob eine ärztliche Überweisung im Rahmen von psychischer Gesundheit im Kleinkindalter induziert ist. Die Gültigkeit des Fragebogens zum Alter und zu den Entwicklungsstufen "Sozial Emotional" (ASQ: SE) wurde von einer Gruppe Hilfe-suchender Mütter mit Kleinkindern entwickelt. Die Fragebögen wurden von unabhängigern Beobachter innerhalb dyadischer Interaktionen validiert. Zusätzlich überprüften erfahrene Kliniker die Qualität der dyadischen Beziehungen. Die Bewertungen mittels ASQ: SE wurden darüber hinaus mit Fragebogen zu mütterlichen psychologischem Stress und Ängste verglichen. Ergebnisse: Die ASQ: SE zeigte keine signifikant Korrelation mit den externen Ergebnissen der dyadischen Interaktion oder den klinisch beurteilten Beziehungsqualitäten, obwohl die beiden letzteren trotzdem in Zusammenhang standen. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigten die Ergebnisse des ASQ: SE einen Zusammenhang mit den Fragebögen zur mütterlichen psychischen Belastung. Dies galt vor allem für Mütter die als depressiv eingestuft wurden. Außerdem machten die Ergebnisse des ASQ: SE eindeutige Vorhersagen was den mütterlicher Stress anbelangt. Die Studie weist auf einige Probleme der übereinstimmenden Gültigkeit des ASQ: SE in klinischen Stichproben hin. Es zeigt aber auch eine enge Verbindung zwischen mütterlicher psychischer Belastung und ihren Bewertungen der sozialen und emotionalen Funktionsfähigkeit ihrer Säuglinge hin. Weitere Forschung sollte untersuchen, inwieweit der ASQ: SE gezielt Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der Funktionalität von Säuglingen oder mütterliche Not misst und in wie weit der Fragebogen im klinischen bzw. nicht-klinischen Setting Gültigkeit behält. [source]

Observer variance within families: confluence among maternal, paternal and child ratings

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2001
Dr Anne I.H. Borge
Abstract This paper examines patterns of agreement among different informants within the same family in order to determine the effects of maternal distress on the ratings of mothers and fathers. Mothers, fathers and children from a community cohort of 216 families with 13 to 15 years olds reported children's difficulties and strengths measured by the Rutter Revised Scale. The absolute scores on the children's ratings were higher than those of the fathers and mothers. The odds ratios for agreements between fathers and children ranged between 1.70 and 4.01 and for mother-child agreement between 0.83 and 3.40. There were no significant differences between the mothers and fathers in the extent of their agreement with their children. When mothers were emotionally distressed, there was a significantly higher level of emotional disturbance in the children according to the ratings of both mothers and fathers, but not according to children's ratings. There is value in obtaining paternal, as well as maternal and child, ratings of children's behaviour. Maternal distress affects the ratings of both parents, but not those of the children; the reasons for these effects require further study but they cannot be assumed to reflect rating bias. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]

Maternal distress: a concept analysis

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 9 2010
Elizabeth Emmanuel
emmanuel e. & st john w. (2010) Maternal distress: concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(9), 2104,2115. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of maternal distress. Background., Although not well-developed, the concept of maternal distress has offered an important viewpoint in nursing and midwifery practice since the mid-1990s. Traditionally, understanding of maternal distress has been based on the medical model and dysfunction. The concept of maternal distress needs development so that it describes responses ranging from normal stress responses to those indicating mental health problem/s. Data sources., The SCOPUS, CINAHL and Medline databases were searched for the period from 1995 to 2009 using the keywords ,psychological distress', ,emotional distress' and ,maternal distress'. Review methods., Steps from Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis guided the conduct of this concept analysis. Results., Four attributes of maternal distress were identified as responses to the transition to motherhood, with the level of each response occurring along a continuum: stress, adapting, functioning and control, and connecting. Antecedents to maternal distress include becoming a mother, role changes, body changes and functioning, increased demands and challenges, losses and gains, birth experiences, and changes to relationships and social context. The consequences of maternal distress are compromised mental health status, maternal role development, quality of life, ability to function, quality of relationships and social engagement. The extent of the impact depends on the level of maternal distress. Conclusion., Clearer interpretation of maternal distress offers a comprehensive approach to understanding maternal emotional health during the transition to motherhood. Acknowledging women's experiences and providing more appropriate support could alleviate some of the struggles and hardships experienced by mothers. [source]

Parenting the premature infant: balancing vulnerability and quality of life

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 11 2005
C. Eiser
Background:, Relationships between child quality of life (QOL), maternal well-being and parenting were explored in a questionnaire study. Method:, Mothers of 126 full-term (FT) and 91 pre-term (PT) infants during the child's second year of life completed measures of their own and the child's quality of life and behavioural difficulties. We developed a measure of parenting style derived from Regulatory Focus Theory (RFT), to distinguish greater reported use of promotion as opposed to prevention strategies (emphasising gains rather than losses, and encouraging pursuit of goals rather than prevention of harm). Results:, The two groups of mothers showed no differences on the parenting measure, but those in the PT compared with the FT group described their infant as having lower QOL and more behavioural and mood problems, and rated their own well-being as less satisfactory. Greater use of promotion was associated with reports of fewer difficulties (better QOL) for the child and better mothers' well-being. Differences in mothers' well-being as a function of group (FT vs. PT) and promotion were strongly mediated by mothers' perceptions of their child's difficulties. At the same time, associations with child difficulties were partly mediated by mothers' well-being, suggesting that maternal distress may have partly contributed to higher perceptions of such difficulties. Among PT infants, the degree of prematurity predicted child difficulties, but was not consistently related to mothers' well-being. Discussion:, Mothers of PT infants report more physical health and behavioural difficulties than mothers of FT infants, but specific parenting styles can contribute to child difficulties and QOL in both infants and their mothers. Conclusion:, We conclude that RFT has potential for understanding the conflicts experienced by parents caring for vulnerable children. [source]

Maternal distress: a concept analysis

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 9 2010
Elizabeth Emmanuel
emmanuel e. & st john w. (2010) Maternal distress: concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(9), 2104,2115. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of maternal distress. Background., Although not well-developed, the concept of maternal distress has offered an important viewpoint in nursing and midwifery practice since the mid-1990s. Traditionally, understanding of maternal distress has been based on the medical model and dysfunction. The concept of maternal distress needs development so that it describes responses ranging from normal stress responses to those indicating mental health problem/s. Data sources., The SCOPUS, CINAHL and Medline databases were searched for the period from 1995 to 2009 using the keywords ,psychological distress', ,emotional distress' and ,maternal distress'. Review methods., Steps from Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis guided the conduct of this concept analysis. Results., Four attributes of maternal distress were identified as responses to the transition to motherhood, with the level of each response occurring along a continuum: stress, adapting, functioning and control, and connecting. Antecedents to maternal distress include becoming a mother, role changes, body changes and functioning, increased demands and challenges, losses and gains, birth experiences, and changes to relationships and social context. The consequences of maternal distress are compromised mental health status, maternal role development, quality of life, ability to function, quality of relationships and social engagement. The extent of the impact depends on the level of maternal distress. Conclusion., Clearer interpretation of maternal distress offers a comprehensive approach to understanding maternal emotional health during the transition to motherhood. Acknowledging women's experiences and providing more appropriate support could alleviate some of the struggles and hardships experienced by mothers. [source]