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Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support

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An Erratum to this article was published on 20 March 2015

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge an NHMRC postdoctoral fellowship (KW 631712); an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (RB 473840) and a Smart State Fellowship (RB).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, The School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Koa Whittingham & Roslyn N. Boyd

  2. Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Matthew R. Sanders

  3. Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Paul Colditz

Authors
  1. Koa Whittingham
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  2. Roslyn N. Boyd
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  3. Matthew R. Sanders
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  4. Paul Colditz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Koa Whittingham.

Appendix: Questions Asked by Facilitators in the Focus Groups

Appendix: Questions Asked by Facilitators in the Focus Groups

  1. 1.

    What is your general impression of Prem Triple P?

    • Follow Up Questions

    • What are your reasons for thinking X?

  2. 2.

    Which content areas do you think are most relevant for parents of babies born preterm?

    • Follow Up Questions

    • Why is that relevant for parents of children born preterm?

  3. 3.

    Which content areas do you think are not relevant or inappropriate for parents of babies born preterm?

    • Follow Up Questions

    • Why is that not so relevant for parents of children born preterm?

  4. 4.

    What is unique about parenting a preterm baby?

  5. 5.

    What are your particular concerns as a parent of a preterm baby that you’d like to see addressed in Prem Triple P?

    • Follow Up Questions

    • Is there anything that Prem Triple P is missing?

    • How could we address that in Prem Triple P?

  6. 6.

    Would you have wanted to participate in Prem Triple P?

  7. 7.

    What do you think of the workbook?

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Whittingham, K., Boyd, R.N., Sanders, M.R. et al. Parenting and Prematurity: Understanding Parent Experience and Preferences for Support. J Child Fam Stud 23, 1050–1061 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9762-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9762-x

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