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Personal Growth of Mothers of Preterms: Objective Severity of the Event, Subjective Stress, Personal Resources, and Maternal Emotional Support

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Abstract

This prospective study investigated the personal growth of Israeli mothers of premature babies at two medically defined risk levels (infants at low risk, n = 42; infants at moderate-high risk, n = 52), examining the contribution to the five dimensions of personal growth of objective event characteristics (baby’s risk level), perceived levels of mother’s stress (linear and curvilinear associations), and mother’s personal resources (self-esteem, attachment styles, perceived emotional support from her own mother). In addition, the role of the event severity as a moderator of the association between perceived maternal emotional support and personal growth was explored. Findings indicate that mothers in the two risk groups did not differ in level of perceived stress. Mothers of infants at moderate-high risk, however, experienced more spiritual change. In addition, consistent curvilinear associations emerged between perceived levels of stress and personal growth for three dimensions of growth: new possibilities, personal strength, and relations with others (with a similar trend for appreciation of life). Thus, mothers reporting moderate stress levels experienced the highest personal growth. Finally, risk group played a moderating role in the association between perceived maternal emotional support and personal growth on the dimensions of new possibilities, personal strength, and relations with others. On these dimensions, only among mothers of low-risk babies were higher levels of maternal emotional support associated with greater personal growth. The results highlight the importance of the subjective experience and the value of maternal emotional support for the personal growth of mothers of preterms. These findings may help in designing measures to identify populations at risk and developing appropriate interventions, as well as impact on the working procedures and support currently offered in most neonatal intensive care units.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Gal Rozen & Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari

  2. Department of Neonatology, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Tzipora Strauss & Iris Morag

Authors
  1. Gal Rozen
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  2. Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari
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  3. Tzipora Strauss
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  4. Iris Morag
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Correspondence to Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari.

Additional information

The study is part of the MA Thesis submitted to the School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University by the first author, and carried out under the supervision of the second author.

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Rozen, G., Taubman – Ben-Ari, O., Strauss, T. et al. Personal Growth of Mothers of Preterms: Objective Severity of the Event, Subjective Stress, Personal Resources, and Maternal Emotional Support. J Happiness Stud 19, 2167–2186 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9915-5

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