POPLINE Document Number: 077403
Author(s):
Han KJ
Source citation:
KANHO HAKHOE CHI [JOURNAL OF NURSES ACADEMIC SOCIETY], 1991 Apr;21(1):89-116.
Abstract:
The interaction and relationship between mother and infant is vital in the psychological development of children. The factors influencing this relationship include the child's movements, sleep, appearance, abilities, and volition. The mother's conscience, social and health status, her solicitation and care toward her child make up the other half of this interaction. The mother-child relationship is affected by the surrounding social environment. 25 mothers and their newborn infants were included in this Korean study using observation and interviews during days 1-5 after delivery at hospitals or maternal-child centers at different locations. The early feeding behavior was analyzed using 8 categories such as mother, infant, and mother-infant dyads. Vocalization was the most frequent mother-infant interaction-inducing factor, while physical contact was the least frequent. Based on cultural beliefs mothers considered the infant at birth a biological organism without social qualities, thus their behavior was task oriented, while the infants reacted according to innate perception. In Korea, physical and eye contact between mother and child especially during breast feeding provides the means for exchange of information. After breast feeding, talking is the dominant form of contact. There were significant differences between rural and urban residents regarding feeding preparation behavior and the moving of extremities for instrumental behavior, but there was no major difference concerning mother-child interacting-inducing conduct between urban and rural subjects. Nurses could teach mothers about the infant's behavior relating to breast feeding to dispel any uncertainties about its behavior, while these observations could also be used for nursing education in the assessment of the mother-infant interaction. Other research could study the effect of culture on this relationship, and the effect of breast size on the child's development.
Keywords:
Republic of KoreaIndex page
Interviews
Breastfeeding
Mothers
Infant
Interpersonal Relations
Behavior
Nurses and Nursing
Beliefs
Developed Countries
Asia, Eastern
Asia
Data Collection
Research Methodology
Infant Nutrition
Nutrition
Health
Parents
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Health Personnel
Delivery of Health Care
Culture