title: Factors affecting adaptation to the role of motherhood in mothers of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting adaptation to the role of motherhood in mothers of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Transition to motherhood often causes significant issues in terms of adaptation to the role of motherhood. The main factors leading to parental stress, especially in the neonatal intensive care unit, have shown that the greatest source of stress is the loss of women's role as mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a qualitative study with content analysis approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Interviews were conducted with 17 mothers of preterm infants (under 36 weeks) who had been hospitalized for at least one week in the neonatal intensive care unit. Purposive sampling with maximum diversity was used to recruit mothers in Kermanshah province (west of Iran). Data was collected during 2013-2014. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using conventional content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Explanation of the mothers' perspective towards factors affecting adaptation to the role of motherhood led to two main categories of individual factors (emotional distress, self-efficacy, interaction and alienation) and social factors (support, prejudice).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adaptation to the role of motherhood can be promoted through supporting mothers of preterm infants, empowering them and increasing their self-efficacy, to eliminate negative factors and emotions.
authors: Student Research Office, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Sousan
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9013-8561
authors: S
authors: Heydarpour
authors: Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Zohreh
authors: Z
authors: Keshavarz
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Bakhtiari
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D007492:Iran; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: adaptation; maternal; neonatal intensive care unit; preterm birth; qualitative research