title: Symbolic interactionism: a framework for the care of parents of preterm infants.
abstract: Because of stressors surrounding preterm birth, parents can be expected to have difficulty in early interactions with their preterm infants. Care givers who work with preterm infants and their parents can positively affect the early parental experiences of these mothers and fathers. If care givers are consciously guided by a conceptual model, therapeutic care for distressed parents is more likely to be provided. A logical framework, such as symbolic interactionism, helps care givers to proceed systematically in assessing parental behaviors, in intervening appropriately, and in evaluating both the process and outcome of the care. Selected aspects of the symbolic interaction model are described in this article and applied to the care of parents of preterm infants.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011582:Psychological Theory; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology