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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Aug 2023Peer support has been suggested as an alternative or complement to professional support for mothers with perinatal mental health difficulties. The aim of this realist... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Peer support has been suggested as an alternative or complement to professional support for mothers with perinatal mental health difficulties. The aim of this realist review was to synthesise the evidence on perinatal mental health peer support programmes outside mental health services, to understand what is it about community-based perinatal mental health peer support that works, for whom, in what circumstances, in what respects, and why.
METHODS
Applying realist methodology, an initial theoretical model was tested against evidence from empirical studies. 29 empirical studies were included, covering 22 antenatal and postnatal mental health interventions that offered one-to-one or group peer support, in person or by telephone. Data extraction identified the configurations of contexts (C), mechanisms (M) and outcomes (O) relevant to mothers' use of peer support and to the positive and negative effects of using peer support.
RESULTS
13 C-M-O configurations explained take-up of peer support. These were based on mothers' perceptions that peer support would offer empathetic understanding and non-judgemental acceptance outside their social circle; their relationships with primary health professionals; their cultural background and perspectives on mental health; their desire for professional support; overcoming practical barriers; the format of the support; and the use of volunteers. A further 13 C-M-O configurations explained positive impact on mothers. These were based on receiving empathetic listening, acceptance, affirmation and normalisation; peers sharing ideas about self-care, coping, and services; peers using therapeutic techniques; the opportunity to give support to others; meaningful social relationships with volunteers and other mothers; and other benefits of attending a group. There were 8 C-M-O configurations explaining negative impact. These were based on lack of validation; self-criticism from downward and upward social comparison; a culture of negativity; peers being judgemental or directive; not feeling heard; peer support as a stressful social relationship; and distress at endings.
CONCLUSIONS
Peer support works in complex ways that are affected by personal and social contexts. Providers, commissioners and evaluators can use this review to understand and maximise the valuable benefits of peer support, to minimise potential risks, and to devise ways of reaching mothers who do not currently engage with it.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Mental Health; Parturition; Peer Group; Mothers; Interpersonal Relations
PubMed: 37558998
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05843-8 -
Reproductive Health Sep 2023According to World Health Organization (WHO), the postnatal care provision aims to provide care and treatment with the highest quality and the least intervention to...
BACKGROUND
According to World Health Organization (WHO), the postnatal care provision aims to provide care and treatment with the highest quality and the least intervention to obtain the best health and well-being for the family. The present study aims to adapt international guidelines for the clinical recommendations for the postpartum period and implement and determine its effectiveness.
METHODS/DESIGN
This study will be done in two phases. In the first phase, international clinical guidelines for mother and newborn postnatal care will be adapted. The second phase is a randomized controlled trial in which the adapted guideline recommendations will be implemented, and maternal and neonatal outcomes will be measured. The ADAPTE method for adaptation of clinical guidelines, is usedg in the first phase. A systematic review was conducted in the databases and clinical guidelines related to postpartum care were extracted according to the inclusion criteria. The quality of clinical guidelines was evaluated using the AGREE-II tool. The WHO clinical guideline obtained the highest evaluation score and was chosen as the main guideline, and the NICE clinical guideline, with a second higher evaluation score, was also used to fill some gaps in the WHO guideline. Based on the pre-determined questions, recommendations will be sent to the relevant experts and stakeholders for their evaluation. After the external evaluation and the finalization of the recommendations, the postpartum clinical guideline will be compiled and used in the second phase of the study. In the second phase, 272 women in the immediate postnatal stage of the maternity and postpartum ward of Taleghani and AL-Zahra Hospitals in Tabriz will be assigned into the intervention (receiving care based on adapted guidline recommendations) and control (receiving routine hospital care) groups uing individual stratified block randomization. At 6 weeks after birth, we will complete the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, postpartum specific anxiety scale and Barkin index of maternal functioning (to assess the primary outcomes), as well as a maternal health problems checklist, infant care behavior, and violence assessment questionnaires (to asses the seconadary outcomes). Further, the maternal health problems checklist and the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale will be completed in the second week after birth. The data will be analyzed using an independent t-test and ANCOVA.
DISCUSSION
It is expected that the implementation of evidence-based clinical guidelines improves maternal and neonatal outcomes and experience of the postpartum period. The positive experience can also help to achieve Iran's population policies and the need to increase childbearing in the country.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N76; Date of registration: 27/1/2023. URL: https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/66874/view ; Date of first registration: 27/3/2023.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Checklist; Databases, Factual; Iran; Mothers; Postnatal Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 37700318
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-023-01682-0 -
Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Apr 2024This review aimed to retrieve and collate a list of culturally relevant mothering occupations in the New Zealand context with mothers positioned as experts of their... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
This review aimed to retrieve and collate a list of culturally relevant mothering occupations in the New Zealand context with mothers positioned as experts of their experience. Mothering occupations influence wellbeing and this study aimed to better inform on the daily occupations mothers participate in that contribute to feelings of maternal confidence.
METHODS
Two main sources were used to identify mothering occupations: A systematic search of mothering literature, and participant additions. The first step involved mothering literature being searched, collated and condensed. The second step involved presenting the compiled list of mothering occupations to a panel of mothers for review and to invite additions. Mothers were asked to consider the occupations they participate in that evoke feelings of confidence and mastery in their mothering. Fifteen mothers with infants 12 to 18 months old were recruited, eight contributed to the mothering occupations list.
RESULTS
A list of 203 items was collated then condensed based on the inclusion criteria for the participant group, and was tracked in a table. The list was reduced to 36 items. Eight participants added to the mothering occupations list, bringing the total number of items to 47. Mothers indicated through their contributions to the list that some types of mothering occupations are more relevant to them when considering feelings of maternal confidence and mastery. The mothers of this study indicated that connecting with their infant, their culture and nature are of high value to them.
CONCLUSION
Developing a list of culturally relevant and relatable mothering occupations is a significant undertaking, highlighting the subjective experiences of mothers. Mothering occupations are vast and influenced by context. Mothers valuing some types of occupation more in relation to maternal confidence indicates a role for occupational therapy with this population to support with engagement and participation in occupations that promote wellbeing.
Topics: Female; Infant; Humans; Occupational Therapy; Mothers; Occupations; Emotions; New Zealand
PubMed: 38105621
DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12921 -
Developmental Psychology Dec 2023The way that mothers talk about the past (reminisce) with young children is linked to key memory, language, and socioemotional outcomes. The present research explored...
The way that mothers talk about the past (reminisce) with young children is linked to key memory, language, and socioemotional outcomes. The present research explored the role of a range of child, maternal, socioeconomic, and cultural factors that predict maternal reminiscing style, with a particular focus on maternal personality and child temperament. A total of 1,404 mother-child dyads from the prebirth longitudinal cohort study (https://www.growingup.co.nz) participated in a reminiscing task about a negative event when children were 8 years old. This broader cohort is broadly representative of the New Zealand population in terms of maternal ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Conversations were scored using a revised version of the Elaborative Reminiscing Scale. Child temperament during infancy, but not childhood, uniquely predicted maternal reminiscing style. Maternal extraversion also predicted a more elaborative reminiscing style. Other maternal factors, including education, ethnicity, and age, were also identified as unique predictors of maternal reminiscing style. These findings fit well with an ecological systems view of maternal reminiscing as a function of child, maternal, and cultural factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Child, Preschool; Mother-Child Relations; Temperament; Cohort Studies; Longitudinal Studies; New Zealand; Memory, Episodic; Mothers; Personality
PubMed: 37843514
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001596 -
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal =... Sep 2023Adolescent motherhood can cause lifelong health inequalities for mothers and children.
BACKGROUND
Adolescent motherhood can cause lifelong health inequalities for mothers and children.
AIMS
To compare the frequency of negative birth outcomes and stunting among children aged ≤ 5 years born to adolescent and non-adolescent mothers.
METHODS
This was a secondary analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey data of 2755 adolescent and non-adolescent mothers aged 15-49 years who had a negative birth outcome and their children aged 0-5 years in Türkiye. The data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0.
RESULTS
Term low birthweight and stunting were significantly higher among children of adolescent mothers. Multivariable analysis revealed that lack of education, poverty, and living in eastern Türkiye increased the risk of delivering a term low birthweight infant. The risk of being stunted was 2.22 times higher among women with lower socioeconomic status, and 2.86 times higher among low birthweight infants.
CONCLUSION
Our results show that macroenvironmental factors have a marked impact on maternal and child health, especially among women with lower socioeconomic status. Improving maternal education, income, and other socioeconomic inequalities can help improve maternal and child health in Türkiye.
Topics: Infant; Child; Humans; Female; Adolescent; Adolescent Mothers; Birth Weight; Mothers; Growth Disorders; Poverty
PubMed: 37776131
DOI: 10.26719/emhj.23.074 -
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Oct 2023Mothers who use drugs are more likely to experience child custody loss than mothers who do not use drugs. The negative impact of removal on children has been well... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Mothers who use drugs are more likely to experience child custody loss than mothers who do not use drugs. The negative impact of removal on children has been well characterized in current literature while less is known about the impact of custody loss on mothers. The purpose of this mixed studies systematic review is to describe the state of science on the maternal outcomes and experiences after child custody loss among mothers who use drugs.
METHODS
PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Social Work Abstract databases were systematically searched between June 2022 to January 2023. Article eligibility criteria centered on the outcomes and experiences of mothers who use drugs after losing child custody. Studies were analyzed using results-based convergent synthesis methodology for mixed studies reviews. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A visual synthesis model was derived from combined results across all studies.
RESULTS
Of 2434 articles screened, 22 relevant scientific articles were selected for inclusion. Longitudinal, cohort studies (n=4) and a cross-sectional study (n=1) identified positive associations between custody loss and poorer mental health, increased drug use and overdose risk, less treatment engagement, and worsened social factors. Qualitative studies (n=17) identified themes that described re-traumatization after child custody loss and the development of coping mechanisms through identity negotiation.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that child custody loss associated with drug use may exacerbate trauma and worsen maternal health. Immediate implications are provided for maternal health policy and practice in healthcare, child welfare, and legal professions.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Child Custody; Cross-Sectional Studies; Mothers; Substance-Related Disorders; Child Welfare
PubMed: 37713979
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110944 -
Psychological Review Nov 2023For new mothers, coping with infant distress is challenging. Mothers' self-efficacy in emotion-related parenting plays critical roles in shaping their adaptation and... (Review)
Review
Origins and development of maternal self-efficacy in emotion-related parenting during the transition to parenthood: Toward an integrative process framework beyond Bandura's model.
For new mothers, coping with infant distress is challenging. Mothers' self-efficacy in emotion-related parenting plays critical roles in shaping their adaptation and children's development. Research on antecedents of maternal parenting self-efficacy has been predominantly based on the global self-efficacy theory outlined by Bandura in the 1970s. Despite the utility of Bandura's theory, subsequent research on emotion-related parenting has highlighted avenues for extending and adapting his model to more adequately elucidate the cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes underlying the development of maternal emotion-related parenting self-efficacy. In view of the basic and applied value of a clearer account of how new mothers' emotion-related parenting self-efficacy emerges and evolves, the increasing amount of research on this topic, and the absence of syntheses of extant studies, we reviewed relevant literature. First, constructs and propositions in prevailing theoretical perspectives are examined for their utility to elucidate the development of new mothers' emotion-related parenting self-efficacy, particularly the implicated cognitive, affective, and behavioral mechanisms and how they work together. Second, a framework is outlined that integrates strengths of various theories to delineate processes underlying the emergence and evolution of new mothers' emotion-related parenting self-efficacy. Third, findings across disparate studies are summarized to provide a foundation for the offered framework. To better inform future research, we demonstrated how to build testable mid-range models with substantive constructs and hypotheses from the proposed framework through deductive theorizing process. We also evaluated the utility of the proposed model for studying new fathers. Last, implications for future research and practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Female; Child; Infant; Humans; Parenting; Self Efficacy; Emotions; Mothers
PubMed: 35786986
DOI: 10.1037/rev0000382 -
Sleep Medicine Clinics Dec 2023This literature review seeks to understand how motherhood and profession affect women's sleep. After the birth of a child, there is an increase in dissatisfaction with... (Review)
Review
This literature review seeks to understand how motherhood and profession affect women's sleep. After the birth of a child, there is an increase in dissatisfaction with the quantity and quality of sleep. Awakenings and sleep disturbances are more frequent and can lead to increased fatigue and stress to reconcile household activities and work demands. These changes in sleep can lead to physical and/or psychological health problems. Sleep hygiene and social support become fundamental for the performance of the maternal tasks, reducing risks and increasing prevention of future problems, both for women and children.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Sleep; Mothers; Sleep Hygiene; Social Support
PubMed: 38501520
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.06.009 -
Journal of Family Psychology : JFP :... Aug 2023Prolonged infant crying can be a trigger for maternal frustration and can even predict intrusive infant-related thoughts of harm. In this study, we compared frustration...
Prolonged infant crying can be a trigger for maternal frustration and can even predict intrusive infant-related thoughts of harm. In this study, we compared frustration responses to prolonged infant crying between single and partnered mothers and attempted to identify variables that mediated any difference between the two groups. We also identified acoustic characteristics of infant cries that were related to higher levels of reported maternal frustration. Twenty-five single and 25 partnered mothers with infants under the age of 6 months completed several mental health questionnaires, and then rated their frustration level after listening to each of 50 consecutive 15s infant cry videos from 50 different infants. As expected, greater maternal perceived stress was associated with higher frustration ratings in response to infant crying, and this was mediated by increased maternal negative affect. Also as expected, both financial strain and low social support were associated with greater perceived stress. However, our sample of single mothers did not experience more stress than our sample of partnered mothers. Nor did they find infant crying to be more frustrating, perhaps due to a recruitment bias toward higher functioning single mothers. Finally, several cry acoustic characteristics were associated with increased maternal frustration, including higher fundamental frequency, air energy, shimmer and longer duration of expiratory phonations, as well as a longer cumulative duration of crying. Our results suggest that maternal frustration in response to infant crying may be decreased by lowering maternal stress levels, and this may be achieved by increasing social support and decreasing financial strain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Female; Infant; Humans; Frustration; Crying; Mothers; Surveys and Questionnaires; Social Support; Mother-Child Relations
PubMed: 36931811
DOI: 10.1037/fam0001077 -
Infant Behavior & Development Aug 2023Maternal mind-mindedness refers to mothers' ability to reflect upon their infants' mental states and respond appropriately. The present study assessed mind-mindedness...
Maternal mind-mindedness refers to mothers' ability to reflect upon their infants' mental states and respond appropriately. The present study assessed mind-mindedness longitudinally from the newborn period to the infant age of three months. The study is the first to assess maternal mind-mindedness in the infant's early life prior to three months (one week, one month, two months, three months). To measure maternal mind-mindedness, mothers' speech to their infants is coded for mental state comments about the infants' thoughts, desires, and emotions. Appropriate mind-minded comments are judged to accurately reflect the infants' mental states; non-attuned mind-minded comments are judged to misinterpret the infants' mental states. Mothers' individual stability (rank order stability) and group level continuity (mean level of stability across the infant ages) were assessed. Mothers showed modest temporal stability in both appropriate and non-attuned mind-mindedness over the infants' first three months. The continuity of mind-mindedness showed that appropriate mind-mindedness increased over the infant ages, but non-attuned mind-mindedness showed no change. In infants' early lives, mothers' ability to accurately interpret their infants' mental states is enhanced as the mother-infant relationship develops and infants become more communicative partners.
Topics: Female; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Infant; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Emotions; Speech; Communication
PubMed: 37454575
DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2023.101864