Life events, social support and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
The effects of a lack of maternal social support and stressful life events on the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) were examined by case-control design: 390 cases and 1592 control infants. A seven item index of mother's social support was used. A possible 21 life events experienced by each family were summed and then put into one of three categories: 0-2, 3-5, and 6 or more life events. Similar levels of maternal social support were found for both groups. SIDS families experienced significantly more stressful life events than control families, but once social factors had been taken into account this association was lost.
Ford
R P
RP
Community Health Service, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Hassall
I B
IB
Mitchell
E A
EA
Scragg
R
R
Taylor
B J
BJ
Allen
E M
EM
Stewart
A W
AW
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology*