Parenting stress in mothers of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) and full-term infants: A function of infant behavioral characteristics and child-rearing attitudes

Objective: To examine the moderating effects of child-rearing attitudes on the relation between parenting stress and infant behavioral characteristics for mothers of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) and full-term infants. Methods: Fifty-six 9-month-old infants (23 VLBW and 33 full-term) and their mothers were the participants. Mothers completed measures of parenting str ess, child-rearing attitudes, infant temperament, and infant behavioral pro blems. Results: The VLBW infants had a higher frequency of behavioral problems, an d their mothers reported more child health concerns than the mothers of the full-term infants. Regression analyses showed that the relation between pa renting stress and infant distress was moderated at medium and high levels of parental strictness for only the VLBW infants. Conclusions: The amount of stress the mothers of the VLBW infants experienc ed was a result of the congruence between their infant's behavioral charact eristics and their own child-rearing attitudes.