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Mothers of high‐risk infants: Is their initial use of early intervention a predictor of later coping?
Author(s) -
McGrade Betty Jo,
Affleck Glenn,
Allen Deborah,
McQueeney Maria
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0355(198521)6:1<13::aid-imhj2280060104>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , mood , confusion , intervention (counseling) , medicine , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , psychoanalysis
In a program for high‐risk and handicapped infants that began at hospital discharge, mothers' initial use of intervention visits was investigated as a predictor of maternal functioning 9 months later. Measures included ventilation and advice seeking in the first month and 9‐month maternal mood, coping, HOME scores, and use of intervention. Early ventilation and advice seeking were related significantly to mothers' self‐reported confusion, but not to staff ratings of maternal mood. No significant relationships were found between early use of intervention and later coping, HOME scores, or use of intervention. Results are discussed in terms of mothers' generally good adaptation and the need for caution in drawing conclusions from their behavior soon after the birth of a high‐risk or handicapped child.