Korean J Child Health Nurs.  2005 Oct;11(4):415-426.

Parenting Stress, Maternal Sensitivity to Infant Cues and Child Rearing Environment of First-time Mothers

• Kim HS
• Shin YH
• Oh KS
• Kim TI
• Sim MK

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify relations among the parenting stress, maternal sensitivity to infant cues, parenting environment of first-time mothers. METHOD: The participants were 194 first-time mothers of babies aged 1-6 months who visited well-baby clinics in 5 hospitals. The data were collected from April 15 to June 15, 2003.
RESULTS
The parenting stress level was moderate with a mean score of 2.4(range 1-5). The parent domain and parent-child relationship domain of the parenting stress scale were significantly correlated with maternal sensitivity to infant feeding cues (r=-.178, p<.05; r=-.197, p<.01). Parenting stress was significantly correlated with childrearing environment(r=-2.19, p<.01). Parenting stress and childrearing environment were significantly different according to the educational level of the mothers and their prenatal care.
CONCLUSIONS
Nursing interventions to reduce parenting stress in first-time mothers are needed to improve maternal sensitivity to infant cues and childrearing environment which foster infant development.

MeSH Terms

Child
Child Development
Child Rearing*
Child*
Cues*
Humans
Infant*
Mothers*
Nursing
Parent-Child Relations
Parenting*
Parents*
Prenatal Care
Child Health