Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support

Infants born very preterm are at risk of developmental and behavioural problems and their parents are at risk of psychological distress and compromised parenting. This study has two key aims: (1) to identify, from the parents' own perspective, the unique aspects of parenting an infant born very...

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Main Authors: Whittingham, K., Boyd, Roslyn, Sanders, M., Colditz, P.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46774
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author Whittingham, K.
Boyd, Roslyn
Sanders, M.
Colditz, P.
author_facet Whittingham, K.
Boyd, Roslyn
Sanders, M.
Colditz, P.
author_sort Whittingham, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Infants born very preterm are at risk of developmental and behavioural problems and their parents are at risk of psychological distress and compromised parenting. This study has two key aims: (1) to identify, from the parents' own perspective, the unique aspects of parenting an infant born very preterm and (2) to assess parent preferences for support including opinions of a new, tailored parenting intervention, Prem Baby Positive Parenting Program (Triple P). A qualitative approach was taken with focus groups of 18 parents of infants born preterm and a thematic analysis conducted. Parents identified several unique aspects of parenting an infant born preterm including: difficulty coping with the stress of hospitalisation; institutionalisation to the hospital environment; a lack of preparation for the transition to parenthood; grief; isolation; getting into "bad parenting habits" of overnurturance and a lack of certainty about developmental expectations. Parents preferred parenting support that is tailored to parents of infants born preterm, has flexible delivery, enhances coping skills and the spousal relationship and is sensitive to the emotional context of parenting an infant born preterm. Understanding the experiences and the preferences of parents of infants born preterm is an important step in tailoring parenting interventions to fit their needs. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-467742017-09-13T14:01:55Z Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support Whittingham, K. Boyd, Roslyn Sanders, M. Colditz, P. Infants born very preterm are at risk of developmental and behavioural problems and their parents are at risk of psychological distress and compromised parenting. This study has two key aims: (1) to identify, from the parents' own perspective, the unique aspects of parenting an infant born very preterm and (2) to assess parent preferences for support including opinions of a new, tailored parenting intervention, Prem Baby Positive Parenting Program (Triple P). A qualitative approach was taken with focus groups of 18 parents of infants born preterm and a thematic analysis conducted. Parents identified several unique aspects of parenting an infant born preterm including: difficulty coping with the stress of hospitalisation; institutionalisation to the hospital environment; a lack of preparation for the transition to parenthood; grief; isolation; getting into "bad parenting habits" of overnurturance and a lack of certainty about developmental expectations. Parents preferred parenting support that is tailored to parents of infants born preterm, has flexible delivery, enhances coping skills and the spousal relationship and is sensitive to the emotional context of parenting an infant born preterm. Understanding the experiences and the preferences of parents of infants born preterm is an important step in tailoring parenting interventions to fit their needs. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46774 10.1007/s10826-013-9762-x restricted
spellingShingle Whittingham, K.
Boyd, Roslyn
Sanders, M.
Colditz, P.
Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support
title Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support
title_full Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support
title_fullStr Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support
title_full_unstemmed Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support
title_short Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support
title_sort parenting and prematurity: understanding parent experience and preferences for support
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46774