perinatal risk, attachment, and family context

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104 PERINATAL RISK, ATTACIDiENT, AND FAHILY CONTEXT M. Ann Easterbrooks & Robert J. Harmon The present study examines relationships among perinatal risk status, security of attachment to mother and father, and family factors which might be associated with risk and attachment quality (parents' of marital quality and extent of child interference). 30 very low birthweight pre term in- fants gr, ,32 wks gestation) and 30 fullterm infants and their parents were observed in a labora- tory playroom when infants were 13 months old (cor- rected age for preterms). Quality of attachment to mother and father was independently assessed in the Strange Situation. Questionnaires included parental perceptions of the quality of the marital relation- ship and of child interference in daily life. The data support previous reports which fail to link perinatal risk and security of infant-mother attach- ment, and extend these findings to infants' attach- ment relationships with fathers. Further, parents of risk infants did not perceive their 1-year-01ds as more of an interference in their lives than non- risk infants. A link between security of attachment and perception of child interference was found for fathers, with fathers of securely attached infants being less bothered than fathers whose infants had established insecure attachments with ' them. Closer examination revealed that this effect centered around interference in the marital relationship. The results highlight the ability of parents to adapt to the birth of a high risk infant in a way that can support secure infant-mother and infant-father attachments and positive parenting attitudes. The relationship between marriage and child develop- ment is also an integral aspect of family development.

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Page 1: Perinatal risk, attachment, and family context

104

PERINATAL RISK, ATTACIDiENT, AND FAHILY CONTEXTM. Ann Easterbrooks & Robert J. Harmon

The present study examines relationships amongperinatal risk status, security of attachment tomother and father, and family factors which might beassociated with risk and attachment quality (parents'percepti6~s of marital quality and extent of childinterference). 30 very low birthweight preterm in­fants (~1500 gr, ,32 wks gestation) and 30 fullterminfants and their parents were observed in a labora­tory playroom when infants were 13 months old (cor­rected age for preterms). Quality of attachment tomother and father was independently assessed in theStrange Situation. Questionnaires included parentalperceptions of the quality of the marital relation­ship and of child interference in daily life. Thedata support previous reports which fail to linkperinatal risk and security of infant-mother attach­ment, and extend these findings to infants' attach­ment relationships with fathers. Further, parentsof risk infants did not perceive their 1-year-01dsas more of an interference in their lives than non­risk infants. A link between security of attachmentand perception of child interference was found forfathers, with fathers of securely attached infantsbeing less bothered than fathers whose infants hadestablished insecure attachments with ' them. Closerexamination revealed that this effect centered aroundinterference in the marital relationship. Theresults highlight the ability of parents to adapt tothe birth of a high risk infant in a way that cansupport secure infant-mother and infant-fatherattachments and positive parenting attitudes.The relationship between marriage and child develop­ment is also an integral aspect of family development.