title: Maternal perception of first-born infants: a controlled comparative study of mothers of premature and full-term infants.
abstract: Mothers of premature infants monitored at home for apnea and mothers of full-term infants had significantly more positive perceptions of their infants than mothers of premature infants not monitored. Using the Brief Symptom Inventory 2 weeks after the infants went home from the hospital, the mothers of infants not monitored reported significantly more psychological symptoms than the other two groups. Maternal perceptions of their infants had not changed when interviewed 6 months later. Implications for nursing practice are discussed.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erpestad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires