Impact of maternal emotional experiences at birth and self-regulation in preterm children: The role of early interactions

Abstract

BackgroundPreterm birth can constitute an unexpected interruption of the transition to motherhood that can impact on a mother's well-being and her subsequent interactions with her child and, thus, be an important risk factor for the infant's emotional development. Aimsthis study aims to shed light on early mother–child interactions, influenced by maternal symptomatology after childbirth, that can compromise a child's self-regulation ability. MethodA battery of self-report questionnaires was administered to 246 mothers a few days after their babies' birth. At 3 months of corrected infant age, mother–infant interactions were assessed using the GRS scales through video recording. At 12 and 24 months of corrected age, Bayley-III scales were administered to assess children's self-regulation ability. ResultsSignificant correlations were found among maternal symptomatology and GRS dimensions in ELBW children. Regressions results showed how GRS scores were predicted by various POMS subscales. ConclusionsOur results underline that maternal symptomatology could be a risk factor for the co-construction of interactive exchanges between mother and premature baby and for the long-term development of the infant's self-regulation ability.