The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an intervention, guided participation (GP), designed specifically for mothers of very low-birth weight (VLBW), premature infants, on maternal and infant feeding competencies. The goal of GP is development of competencies needed for a socially important practice (e.g., parenting and caregiving of a VLBW infant). A practice requires competencies in multiple domains, including a relationship of the caregiver with the receiver of care, technical knowledge and skills, communication and problem solving with others, and regulation or management of emotions, expectations, and intentions about the practice. In this study, GP effect on infant and maternal feeding competencies was examined controlling for infant, maternal, and family conditions. Five types of feeding competencies were examined longitudinally and within age (1, 4, 8, and 12 months, post-term age) for 42 mother- infant pairs who were randomly assigned to either GP or Standard Care groups. The feeding competency types were: (a) infant feeding skills; (b) maternal and infant positive affect and behavior during feeding; and (c) maternal and infant regulation of negative affect and behavior during feeding. The hypothesized GP effect on competencies across infant age received support for infants (at 1 and 8 months) and for mothers (at 4 months). The hypothesized contribution of conditions was most strongly supported by the negative relationship of family poverty status with the two maternal competency variables. The hypothesized GP moderator effect on the relationship of depressive symptoms with maternal competency variables was supported for both infant and maternal regulation of negative affect and behavior at 8 months. Despite wide variability in maternal attributes and family circumstances and limited power, findings provide modest support for a GP effect on both maternal and infant feeding competencies and suggest future study of maternal working models of parenting and caregiving.
Session #1182 - Post Partum & Care of Infants
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)