Effectiveness of a Modified Mother-Infant Transaction Program on Outcomes for Preterm Infants from 3 to 24 months of age

Abstract

Mothers of hospitalised preterm infants were randomised into an intervention or control condition. Intervention mothers received a modified Mother-Infant Transaction Program over seven sessions prior to infant discharge and two sessions over the next 3 months. Infant temperament, mother-infant interaction and parenting stress were assessed at 3 and 6 months and infant development was measured by parental report at 24 months. Intervention compared with control dyads showed enhanced mother-infant interactions, infants were temperamentally more "approaching" and "easier", had fewer regulatory problems (colic, sleep, excessive crying), and had more developed communication skills, while mothers w..