Effects of age and the preterm birth of an infant on adolescent mothers' psychological adjustment

L Farnell; L Jones; Jennifer Rowe; N Sheeran

doi:10.1080/02739615.2012.721713

Back

Effects of age and the preterm birth of an infant on adolescent mothers' psychological adjustment

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Effects of age and the preterm birth of an infant on adolescent mothers' psychological adjustment

L Farnell, L Jones, Jennifer Rowe and N Sheeran

Children's Health Care, Vol.41(4), pp.302-321

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2012.721713

Files and links (2)

pdf

PDF - Author Accepted Version152.53 kBDownload View

Accepted VersionPDF - Author Accepted Version Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2012.721713View

Published Version

Abstract

preterm birth

age

adolescent mothers

This study examined the psychological impact of preterm birth among adolescent mothers and how it compared to the psychological impact of preterm birth among adult mothers and full term birth among adolescent mothers. Fifty two mothers completed a survey immediately prior to the discharge of their infant from hospital and approximately three months later. Contrary to our hypotheses, adult mothers of preterm infants reported higher levels of psychological distress and threat appraisal pre-discharge than did adolescent mothers. Post-discharge this difference had dissipated. At the same time, there was no difference between the mothers in the reported helpfulness of social support, although all groups reported a decline in support from pre- to post-discharge. These findings help challenge prevailing assumptions about the transition to motherhood and have implications for service delivery and interventions.

Details

Title: Effects of age and the preterm birth of an infant on adolescent mothers' psychological adjustment
Authors: L Farnell (Author) - Griffith University
L Jones (Author) - Griffith University
Jennifer Rowe (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
N Sheeran (Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: Children's Health Care, Vol.41(4), pp.302-321
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1080/02739615.2012.721713
ISSN: 0273-9615
Copyright note: Copyright © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is the Author's Accepted Version of an article published in Children's Health Care, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp.302-321. Children's Health Care is available online at: www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/02739615.2012.721713.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450506602621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

173 File views/ downloads

694 Record Views

4 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites