Employed mothers' concerns about separation from the first- and second-born child.
The effect of birth order on mothers' anxiety about separation from their infants was examined. Forty employed mothers were assessed in 1982 when their firstborns were 7 months old and again when their second-borns were 7 months old. Assessment included two measures: an Interview-Based Rating Scale (IBRS) and the Maternal Separation Anxiety Scale (MSAS). Findings revealed that mothers felt less guilt and anxiety about separation from their second-borns than they had from their first-borns at a similar age. They were more positive about the effects of separation on the child; however, their concerns about employment-related separation did not change.
Pitzer
M S
MS
College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Hock
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001722:Birth Order; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*