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The Process of Maternal Role Attainment over the First Year
Abstract
A study of the process of maternal role attainment in three age groups (15 to 19 years, 20 to 29 years, and 30 to 42 years) over the first year of motherhood found that the role attainment behaviors of feelings of love for the baby, gratification in the maternal role, observed maternal behavior, and self-reported ways of handling irritating child behaviors did not show a positive linear increase over the year. Behaviors peaked at 4 months postbirth, but declined at 8 months. Interview data suggested that the challenges of the infant's developmental behaviors at 8 and 12 months contributed to feelings of role incompetency. Although age groups functioned at different levels, their patterns of behaviors over the year did not vary, except for gratification in the role, indicating that the maternal role presented similar challenges for all women. There were no significant differences by maternal age in role strain or self-image as a mother over the year.
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“parents typically find themselves highly motivated to take care of their infants’ needs and also find the interactions with infants rewarding (2,3).”
From Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby‐Cry (2011) · cites this paper as [2]
In the citing paper
“Indeed, negative feelings about parenting may be linked to the parents’ difficulties in developing emotional bonds with their infants (Mercer, 1985; Nystrom and Ohrling, 2004) although the nature and direction of this link needs clarification.”
From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Mercer, 1985
In the citing paper
“These positive interactions further help mothers to strengthen their attachment and heighten the experience of positive feelings toward their infants (Mercer, 1985).”
From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Mercer, 1985
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Becoming a Mother Versus Maternal Role Attainment
Mercer, R. T. (2004) · Journal of Nursing Scholarship · doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2004.04042.x · Cited by 953
Self-citationSwain, J. E., Kim, P., Spicer, J., Ho, S. S., Dayton, C. J., Elmadih, A., & Abel, K. M. (2014) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2014.03.007 · Cited by 290
Mothers' Experiences of Having a Preterm Infant in the Neonatal Care Unit: A Meta-Synthesis
Aagaard, H., & Hall, E. O. C. (2008) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2007.02.003 · Cited by 270
Psychological factors and the sexuality of pregnant and postpartum women
Judicibus, M. A. D., & McCabe, M. P. (2002) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224490209552128 · Cited by 251
The Impact of Postpartum Depression on Mothering
Logsdon, M. C., Wisner, K. L., & Pinto, M. D. (2006) · Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00087.x · Cited by 210
Metadata
- Authors
- MERCER, R. T.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Corresponding author
- MERCER, RAMONA T.
- Venue
- Nursing Research
- Published
- 1985-07
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 198???203
- ISSN
- 0029-6562 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2029812512
- Cited by
- 258
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 3.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nursing Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (MC-R-060435)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- maternal role attainment, maternal age, maternal behavior, infant irritability
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Child Behavior, Female, Humans, Infant, Maternal Age, Maternal Behavior, Middle Aged, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Role, Self Concept, Time Factors, Pregnancy, High-Risk
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