Attachment representations in mothers of preterm infants




Korja R, Savonlahti E, Haataja L, Lapinleimu H, Manninen H, Piha J, Lehtonen L

PublisherELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

2009

Infant Behavior and Development

INFANT BEHAVIOR & DEVELOPMENT

INFANT BEHAV DEV

32

3

305

311

7

0163-6383

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2009.04.003



The aim of the study was to assess attachment representations in mothers of preterm infants using the Working Model of Child Interview (WMCI) at the 12 months of the infant's corrected age. In addition, the relation between WMCI representation categories and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score at 6 months of the infant's corrected age was studied. There were 38 mothers of preterm infants (< 1500g or < 32 gestational weeks) and 45 mothers of full-term infants. The results showed no differences between the study groups in the distribution of the three main representation categories (balanced, disengaged and distorted). However, there were qualitative differences in representations between the groups. Furthermore, maternal depression symptoms were associated with distorted representation category. We suggest that despite the qualitative differences in the mothers' representations, mothers of preterm infants are as likely to form balanced attachments with their infants as mothers of full-term infants. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.



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