title: Mothers' Psychological Distress and Feeding of Their Preterm Infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the change in psychological distress of mothers of preterm infants and its association with maternal feeding behaviors as the infant transitions to full oral feeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive exploratory study used a subset of data from a study of the effects of a coregulated feeding intervention for 34 mothers and hospitalized preterm infants in a Level-III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Maternal psychological distress was measured by maternal worry (Child Health Worry Scale), depression (Center for Epidemiology-Depression Scale), and role stress (Parental Stress Scale: NICU-Role Alteration) at three time points: within 1 week prior to the first oral feeding (T1), and at achievement of half (T2) and full oral feeding (T3). Feedings were videotaped at T2 and T3. An observational coding system measured maternal feeding behaviors. Linear mixed modeling evaluated the change in maternal psychological distress and its association with mothers' feeding behaviors as the infant transitioned to full oral feeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal depressive symptoms were highest at T1 and declined over time. Maternal worry and role stress were also highest at T1 but remained stable from T2 to T3. Increased maternal psychological distress, particularly depressive symptoms and role stress, were associated with less use of developmentally supportive feeding behaviors, that is, minimizing tactile stimulation, providing steady touch to contain or stabilize the infant, and regulating milk flow.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supporting maternal psychological well-being while infants are learning to feed orally may be an appropriate target for interventions to support mother-infant early feeding interactions.
authors.affiliation: Jinhee Park is an Assistant Professor, Boston College Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA. The author can be reached via e-mail at jinhee.park@bc.eduSuzanne Thoyre is a Francis Hill Fox Distinguished Term Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.Hayley Estremi is a Postdoctoral Associate, Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC.Britt F. Pados is an Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.George J. Knafl is a Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.Debra Brandon is an Associate Professor and Director of PhD and Postdoctoral Programs, Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Jinhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thoyre
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Estrem
authors.forename: Britt F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Pados
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Knafl
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brandon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009657:North Carolina; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*