title: Mastery of stress in mothers of preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationships among stress, social support, mastery, and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive correlational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  60-bed, Level 3 NICU in an urban medical center in a Mid-Atlantic state.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 mothers who delivered infants born between 26 and 36 weeks gestation. Inclusion criteria included no maternal illness or complications requiring hospitalization beyond four days, and no report of a recent major stressful life event other than the birth of the child.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Mastery of Stress Instrument, the Account of Social Resources Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Social support was positively related to mastery and inversely related to depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mothers of preterm infants experienced significant levels of stress and depression in the early postpartum period.
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Program, School of Nursing, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA. YOUNGER@GEMS.VCU.EDU
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Younger
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kendell
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Pickler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires