Resumen

MARTELO, Inês  y  FUERTES, Marina. Diadic interaction with exterm preterm infants at 3 and 9 months. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2021, vol.22, n.3, pp.1013-1026.  Epub 31-Dic-2021. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/21psd220320.

Maternal sensitivity affects mother-infant attachment and, thereby children development. However, scarce research was done with extremely preterm infants (less than 32 weeks of pregnancy). This study investigates the quality and continuity of mother-infant interactions in dyads with extremely preterm infants. For this purpose, 20 mother-infant dyads were recruited and observed, in free play interactions, at 3 and at 9 months. The participants were mother-infants dyads with extremely preterm infants, 12 girls and 8 boys, mean of gestational age was 30.7 weeks and gestational weight of 1385.95g. Compared with full term and infants born between to 32 and 36 weeks, in our sample with extremely preterm, the mean of maternal sensitivity and infant cooperation was lower. In addition, our study indicates a strong association and continuity of maternal behaviors at 3 and 9 months. The same association and continuity of behavior was observed in infant’s behavior. Finally, maternal and infant behavior were affected by: gestational age, gestational weight, Apgar score and days of hospitalization. In sum, the results, although not generalizable, indicate that these dyads struggle with difficulties in establishing a positive, pleasant and reciprocal relationship that contributes to infant development.

Palabras clave : Extreme prematurity; Dyadic relationship; Maternal sensitivity; Infant cooperation.

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