Abstract
Objective
This study aims to assess the emotional impacts of the baby’s physical disability on the mother.
Method
It is an exploratory investigation carried on with two mother-infant dyads, only one of which gave birth to a physically disabled baby, both participating in a larger case-control investigation. The tools used included the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories, the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire as well as semi-structured interviews.
Results
Both mothers showed similar reports and parenting levels, but the one whose baby had a disability scored higher on anxiety and depression, in connection with the baby’s low level of development.
Conclusion
It is concluded that, in order to achieve the same levels of a typical parenting condition, greater adaptation mechanisms are required.
Keywords:
Emotions; Human development; Parent-child relationship