Abstract
The purpose of this study was a) to investigate the effects of teaching mothers unique behavioral cues of their adopted infant and b) to learn if there is a difference between mothering of adopted and birth infants. A pretest, post-test experimental prospective design was used with random assignment of mother-adopted infant dyads. Dyads were randomized into experimental and non-experimental groups. Infants were tested using Massie's “Mother infant Attachment Indicators During Stress”. A teaching session of specific behavioral cues was given to only the experimental group. Post-test scoring was evaluated by a blind observer; interrater reliability agreement was 0.90. Mean age of the 17 adoptive mothers was 33±4 years; of the adopted infants was 11±9 weeks. Age matched birth mothers formed the control group. The mean age of the 13 birth mothers was 31±5 years; of the birth infants was 8±9 weeks. Differences demonstrated between birth and adopted dyads were: affect (p<.07), holding (p<.03), infant gazing (p<.05) and maternal gazing (p<.002). Differences between adoptive and birth mothering were reflected in holding (p<.08), touching (p<.05), and vocalizing (p<.03). All mothers were interviewed and the qualitative analyses demonstrated seven themes. We have found a difference in the maternal-adopted infant dyad when compared to birth mother-infant dyads. Mothering of adopted infants may also be changed temporarily by a specific teaching intervention.
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Chan, M., Kirgis, C., Coleman, K. et al. MATERNAL ACQUAINTANCE WITH ADOPTED AND BIRTH INFANTS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 179 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00080
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00080