What can make the difference? Premature birth and maternal sensitivity at 3 months of age: the role of attachment organization, traumatic reaction and baby's medical risk

Infant Behav Dev. 2007 Dec;30(4):679-84. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2007.03.004. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

The influence of prematurity and maternal attachment organization on sensitivity was investigated in 40 mother-infant dyads. Results show a main effect of attachment and an interaction between attachment and prematurity. Sensitivity was differently associated with medical risk and mothers' traumatic reaction, depending on the quality of attachment.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect
  • Anxiety, Separation / psychology*
  • Child Development / physiology
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature*
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior / psychology
  • Mother-Child Relations*
  • Object Attachment*
  • Risk Factors