Prenatal assessment for childhood discipline experiences.
OBJECTIVE
To explore relationships between pregnant women's childhood experiences with discipline and 1) prenatal plans for disciplining own child and 2) later maternal-infant interactions


METHODS
Prospective correlation study.


METHODS
Prenatal clinics and home visits


METHODS
Low-income pregnant women (N = 205) with a mean educational level of 12 years


METHODS
Adapted Ways of Handling Irritating Behaviors (Mother and You) Scales, NCAST Teaching Scale, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Scale


RESULTS
Correlations between childhood experiences with discipline and 1) plans for later discipline strategies with own child and 2) infant components of maternal-infant interactions, including clarity of cues and responsiveness to the mother


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal assessment for childhood experiences with discipline may uncover factors associated with a break in the trajectory for optimal maternal-child interactions described by Barnard's theoretical framework.
Gaffney
K F
KF
George Mason University, College of Nursing and Health Science, Fairfax, VA, USA. KGAFFNEY@gmu.edu
Holley-Wilcox
P
P
Jones
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011678:Punishment; D012923:Social Class