| Description |
The purpose of this study was a) to investigate the effects of teaching mothers unique behavioral cues of their adopted infant and b) to learn if there is a difference between mothering of adopted and birth infants. A pretest, posttest experimental prospective design was used with random assignment of mother-adopted infant dyads. Maternal adopted infant dyads were randomized into intervention or nonintervention groups. Infants were tested using Massie's Mother Infant Attachment Indicators During Stress." After a stressful period, pretests and posttests were performed. During the interim, a teaching session of specific behavioral cues was shown to only the intervention group. Posttest scoring was evaluated by a blind observer; interrater reliability agreement was 0.90. Mean age of the 17 adoptive mothers was 33+4 years; of the adopted infants, it was 11+9 weeks. Age matched birth mothers formed the control group. The mean age of the 13 birth mothers was 31+5 years; of the birth infants it was 8+9 weeks. Before intervention, all adopted infants differed in affect ( p < .07), holding ( p < .03) and gazing ( p < .05) from birth infants. Adoptive mothers looked at their infants less than control birth mothers ( p < . 002) . To study the mothering of adoptive mothers, we evaluated the effect of a teaching intervention on adoptive pairs. Before intervention, all adopted infants had similar holding-touching responses. After intervention, the adopted infants held onto ( p < .08) and touched ( p < .05) their mothers more. Also, the adopted experimental mothers touched their infants more ( p_ < .08) and vocalized more ( p < .03) than did the noninterventional control adoptive mothers. qualitative analysis of an interview schedule was administered to all study subjects. Four themes developed: a) fantasy about their infant; b) maternal role acquisition; c) anticipatory planning; and d) infant's characteristics. Themes that emerged that were of concern to adoptive mothers were: the shared experience of adoption (due to birth parents), ambiguity or protective coping feelings of possible relinquishment and antagonistic feelings regarding the adoption process. Therefore, the study found differences in concerns and feelings between birth and adoptive mothers. In conclusion, we have found a difference in the maternal-adopted infant dyad when compared to birth mother-infant dyads. It appears that mothering of adopted infants may be changed temporarily by a specific teaching intervention. |
