Sensitivity Training for Mothers With Premature Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Nicky Ka Ki Yu; Kathy Kar-Man Shum; Yuen Yu Lam; Queenie Kwok Loi Kwan; Sylvia Yin Ping Ng; Natalie Tsz Ting Chan

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsac051

Sensitivity Training for Mothers With Premature Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

J Pediatr Psychol. 2022 Oct 19;47(10):1167-1184. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsac051.

Authors

Nicky Ka Ki Yu^{1

2}, Kathy Kar-Man Shum¹, Yuen Yu Lam³, Queenie Kwok Loi Kwan², Sylvia Yin Ping Ng⁴, Natalie Tsz Ting Chan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
² Department of Clinical Psychology, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong.
⁴ Department of Clinical Psychology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong.

PMID: 35666133
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsac051

Abstract

Objective: This single-blind parallel design randomized controlled trial evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a modified version of the Mother-Infant Transaction Program (MITP) in enhancing Chinese mothers' sensitivity towards their premature infants' physiological and social cues.

Methods: Sixty mothers of hospitalized premature infants (mean gestational age = 32.1 weeks; SD = 2.8) were randomly assigned to either the MITP group or the treatment-as-usual control group. The intervention group (n = 30) received four sessions of parental sensitivity training adapted from the MITP, delivered by clinical psychologists before the infants were discharged. The control group (n = 30) received standard care provided by the hospitals. Each dyad was assessed at baseline (Time 1), immediately after intervention (Time 2), and when the infants were at the gestation-corrected ages of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months (Times 3-6). Maternal sensitivity, mother-infant interaction quality, parenting stress, postpartum depression, and mother's perception of infant's temperament were measured at Times 1-4, whereas infants' weight gain and developmental performance were assessed at Times 3-6.

Results: The MITP group showed significantly higher maternal sensitivity and better mother-infant interaction quality after completing the training. They also reported less parenting stress and postnatal depression than the control group at Time 2 and subsequent follow-ups. The intervention significantly predicted better weight gain and developmental outcomes in infants across Times 3-6, mediated by maternal wellbeing and interaction quality.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of this adapted sensitivity training among Chinese mothers with premature infants. [ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04383340].

Keywords: infant’s development; mother–infant interaction; premature infants; randomized controlled trial; sensitivity training.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature* / physiology
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers*
Single-Blind Method
Weight Gain

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04383340