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Bain M, Park S, Zaidi A, Atif N, Rahman A, Malik A, Surkan PJ. Social Support and Spousal Relationship Quality Improves Responsiveness among Anxious Mothers. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024:10.1007/s10578-024-01702-5. [PMID: 38609719 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-024-01702-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Maternal responsiveness, a mother's ability to consistently identify infant cues and then act on them, is critical for healthy child development. A woman's social support and spousal relationship may affect responsiveness to an infant, especially among mothers with anxiety. We assessed how social support and spousal relationship quality is associated with responsiveness among anxious mothers, and if postpartum depression (PPD) moderated these associations. Cross-sectional data were collected from 2019 to 2022 in a public hospital in Pakistan from 701 women at six-weeks postpartum. Eligible women had at least mild anxiety in early- to mid- pregnancy. Linear regression analyses assessed if spousal relationship quality and social support from family and friends were associated with maternal responsiveness, measured using the Maternal Infant Responsiveness Instrument. Interaction terms were used to examine if PPD moderated these associations. Spousal relationship quality (B = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.50) and social support (B = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.31, 1.83) were positively related to maternal responsiveness to the infant. Emotional support from a spouse was positively associated with responsiveness (B = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.12, 2.03 depressed; B = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.34, 4.58 non-depressed), and conflict with the spouse was negatively associated with responsiveness (B=-1.02, 95% CI: -1.94, -0.09 depressed; B=-2.87, 95% CI: -4.36, -1.37 non-depressed). However, social support was related to responsiveness only in non-depressed women (B = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.07). While spousal relationships and social support enhance maternal responsiveness, for depressed women, spousal relationships were particularly critical. In considering maternal-infant interventions to improve child development outcomes, our study indicates the importance of supportive relationships that foster effective responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Bain
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Soim Park
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ahmed Zaidi
- Public Mental Health Department, Health Services Academy, PM Health Complex, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Najia Atif
- Human Development Research Foundation, Global Institute of Human Development, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Gujar Khan Campus, Near Government Rural Health Center Mandra, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Atif Rahman
- Human Development Research Foundation, Global Institute of Human Development, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Gujar Khan Campus, Near Government Rural Health Center Mandra, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, 1-5 Dover Street, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK
| | - Abid Malik
- Public Mental Health Department, Health Services Academy, PM Health Complex, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Pamela J Surkan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Anikiej-Wiczenbach P, Kaźmierczak M. The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Parenting of Infants: A Couples Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16883. [PMID: 36554763 PMCID: PMC9779418 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many negative changes in everyday functioning. This study aimed to establish how it impacts parental responsiveness towards their children; (2) Methods: 132 couples (N = 264) who were parents of young children (from 3 to 24 months; M = 12.61; SD = 6.71) participated in this study. The Parental Responsiveness Scale was used to measure parental responsiveness toward their own child and the Polish adaptation of the My Emotions Scale was used to measure emotional reactions to the child's cry. We collected data about perceived stress, fear of being affected by COVID-19, and emotional overload caused by the pandemic. An analysis using actor-partner interdependence models was carried out; (3) Results: there were actor effects for both parental responsiveness and reactions to the child's cry (for all measured aspects (frustration, amusement, anxiety, empathy, sympathy)). For women, parental responsiveness was a negative partner effect of stress, and for men, there was a positive effect of fear of being infected, emotional overload, and stress; (4) Conclusions: these results show how important it is to take care of families and investigate the effects of the pandemic on their functioning.
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Giraldo-Huertas J, Schafer G. Agreement and Reliability of Parental Reports and Direct Screening of Developmental Outcomes in Toddlers at Risk. Front Psychol 2021; 12:725146. [PMID: 34650483 PMCID: PMC8505716 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.725146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental screening is a practice that directly benefits vulnerable and low-income families and children when it is regular and frequently applied. A developmental screening tool administered by parents called CARE is tested. CARE contains a compilation of activities to report and enhance development at home. Hundred and fifty-seven families in Bogotá (Colombia) initially responded to a call to participate in developmental screening tools' validation and reliability study. All children (Average: 42.7 months old; SD: 9.4; Min: 24, Max: 58) were screened directly by trained applicants using a Spanish version of the Denver Developmental Screening test [i.e., the Haizea-Llevant (HLL) screening table]. After a first screening, 61 dyads were positive for follow-up and received a second HLL screening. Fifty-two out of 61 dyads use and returned CARE booklet after 1-month screening at home. The comparative analysis for parent reports using CARE and direct screening observation included (a) the effects of demographic variables on overall and agreement, (b) agreement and congruence between the CARE report classification and direct screening classification ("At risk" or "Not at risk"), (c) receiver operating characteristic analysis, (d) item-Level agreement for specific developmental domains, and (e) acceptability and feasibility analysis. Results and conclusions show the parental report using the CARE booklet as a reliable screening tool that has the potential to activate alerts for an early cognitive delay that reassure clinicians and families to further specialized and controlled developmental evaluations and act as a screen for the presence of such delay in four developmental dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Giraldo-Huertas
- Department of Psychology of Development and Education, Universidad de la Sabana, Chía, Colombia
| | - Graham Schafer
- The School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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Oryono A, Iraguha B, Musabende A, Habimana E, Nshimyiryo A, Beck K, Habinshuti P, Wilson K, Itangishaka C, Kirk CM. Father involvement in the care of children born small and sick in Rwanda: Association with children's nutrition and development. Child Care Health Dev 2021; 47:451-464. [PMID: 33608895 DOI: 10.1111/cch.12856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about father's involvement in the care of children born with perinatal risk factors. This study aimed to understand father's involvement in the care of children born preterm, low birth weight (LBW) and/or with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in rural Rwanda and assess child and home environment factors associated with father involvement. METHODS A cross-sectional study of children born preterm, LBW or with HIE who were discharged from Kirehe District Hospital neonatal unit from May 2015 to April 2016 and those enrolled in a neonatal unit follow-up programme from May 2016 to November 2017. Interviews were conducted when the children were ages 24-47 months in the child's home. Primary caregivers reported on father involvement in parenting, home environment, child disability, and child development outcomes. Children's nutritional status were directly measured. Only children whose fathers were living in the home were included in the sample. Bivariate analyses were conducted using Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. RESULTS A total of 236 children aged 24-47 months were included in this study, 66.4% were born preterm or LBW with a mean age of 33.3 months. 73.5% of children were at risk of disability and 77.7% had potential delay in overall child development. 15.5% of fathers reported engaging in four or more activities with their child in the last 3 days. Factors associated with father involvement included smaller household size (p = 0.004), mother engaged in decision-making (p = 0.027), being on-track in developmental milestones for problem solving (p = 0.042) and mother's involvement in learning activities (p = 0.043); the number of activities a father engaged in was significantly associated with the child's overall development (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION We found that father involvement in activities to support learning was low amongst children born preterm/LBW and/or with HIE. Programme interventions should encourage fathers to engage with their children given the benefits for children's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Oryono
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | | | | | | | - Kathryn Beck
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | - Kim Wilson
- General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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