A Longitudinal Study of Stress and Support in Families of Preterm and Full-Term Infants

Abstract

Families of full-term and preterm infants were followed throughout the first year of life to examine differences in the amount of stress and support reported over time. The relationship between stress and a) support; and b) the child's developmental status was also examined. Mothers were interviewed at home when infants were 3, 6 and 12 months postnatal age. Mothers of preterms reported significantly more parent and family problems, child problems, formal support and informal support than mothers of full-terms. Child problems decreased significantly between 3 and 12 months. Stress at three months was significantly, negatively related to concurrent measures of formal support. At 6 and 12 months, stress was significantly. negatively related to the amount of support received in the preceding period. At 12 months, stress was also negatively related to the infant's Bayley scores. Results are interpreted in terms of their implications for intervention with families.