A randomized study of the impact of a sensitizing intervention on the child-rearing attitudes of parents of low birth weight preterm infants

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of psychology Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 385 - 391
• Main Authors: NORDHOV, SOLVEIG MARIANNE, KAARESEN, PER IVAR, RØNNING, JOHN A., ULVUND, STEIN ERIK, DAHL, LAURITZ B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Age; Birth weight; Child Rearing - psychology; Child, Preschool; child-rearing; Early Intervention (Education) - methods; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Infant; Infant, Low Birth Weight - psychology; Infants; intervention; Male; nurturance; Parent-Child Relations; Parents - psychology; Preterm; Psychology; RCT; restrictive; restrictive; child-rearing; RCT; intervention; nurturance; Preterm
• ISSN: 0036-5564; 1467-9450
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2009.00805.x

Nordhov, S. M., Kaaresen, P. I., Rønning, J. A., Ulvund, S. E. & Dahl, L. B. (2010). A randomized study of the impact of a sensitizing intervention on the child‐rearing attitudes of parents of low birth weight preterm infants. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 385–391. The background for this study was that nurturant child‐rearing attitudes are associated with positive development in low birth weight (LBW) infants. The objective was to study child‐rearing attitudes and early intervention (EI) in parents of LBW infants from 12–36 months corrected age. LBW infants (BW < 2000 g) were randomized to an intervention (IG) or a control group (CG). The EI consisted of seven in‐hospital sessions prior to discharge, then four home visits. A Child Rearing Practices Report was administered at 12 (mothers only), 24 and 36 months. A total of 146 infants were randomized. The mean BW in IG was 1396 (SD 429) g and 1381 (436) g in CG. The mean GA was 30.2 (3.1) weeks in IG and 29.9 (3.5) weeks in CG. Mothers in IG reported significantly more nurturant child‐rearing attitudes at 12 and 24 months. There was a significant change in restrictive and nurturant attitudes over time. It was concluded that EI may lead to more nurturant child‐rearing attitudes in mothers of preterms.