Parenting in Complex Conditions: Does Preterm Birth Provide a Context for the Development of Less Optimal Parental Behavior?

Hannah N Hoffenkamp; Johan Braeken; Ruby A S Hall; Anneke Tooten; Ad J J M Vingerhoets; Hedwig J A van Bakel

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsv007

Parenting in Complex Conditions: Does Preterm Birth Provide a Context for the Development of Less Optimal Parental Behavior?

J Pediatr Psychol. 2015 Jul;40(6):559-71. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv007. Epub 2015 Feb 19.

Authors

Hannah N Hoffenkamp¹, Johan Braeken², Ruby A S Hall², Anneke Tooten², Ad J J M Vingerhoets², Hedwig J A van Bakel³

Affiliations

¹ International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Tilburg University, Centre for Educational Measurement, University of Oslo, Department of Developmental Psychology, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Dimence: Centre for Infant Mental Health, and Herlaarhof: Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry hannahhoffenkamp@gmail.com.
² International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Tilburg University, Centre for Educational Measurement, University of Oslo, Department of Developmental Psychology, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Dimence: Centre for Infant Mental Health, and Herlaarhof: Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
³ International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Tilburg University, Centre for Educational Measurement, University of Oslo, Department of Developmental Psychology, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Dimence: Centre for Infant Mental Health, and Herlaarhof: Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Tilburg University, Centre for Educational Measurement, University of Oslo, Department of Developmental Psychology, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Dimence: Centre for Infant Mental Health, and Herlaarhof: Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Tilburg University, Centre for Educational Measurement, University of Oslo, Department of Developmental Psychology, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Department of Tranzo, Tilburg University, Dimence: Centre for Infant Mental Health, and Herlaarhof: Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

PMID: 25699688
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv007

Abstract

Objective: To examine the predictive value of parent, infant, and contextual factors related to preterm childbirth for later parenting behaviors.

Methods: Mothers (n = 217) and fathers (n = 204) of term, moderately preterm, and very preterm infants were interviewed 1 month postpartum using the Clinical Interview for Parents of high-risk infants (CLIP), to assess their experiences and perceptions related to the pregnancy, delivery, infant, hospitalization, support system, and their narratives. Their responses were factor analyzed and entered into prediction models of parental behaviors (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development observations) 6 months postpartum.

Results: Preterm birth was associated with negative experiences and concerns in parents. Regression analyses revealed, however, that irrespective of preterm birth, negative and unrealistic parental perceptions predicted less sensitive, more intrusive, and more withdrawn behavior.

Conclusions: Not prematurity per se, but particularly the presence of negative perceptions in parents, is predictive of difficulties in parent-infant interaction. The CLIP is a potentially useful instrument to identify families at risk.

Keywords: CLIP interview; parental perceptions; parent–infant interaction; postpartum experiences; prematurity..

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Analysis of Variance
Attitude to Health*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature / psychology*
Interviews as Topic
Male
Netherlands
Parenting / psychology*
Parents / psychology*
Pregnancy
Premature Birth / psychology*