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Abstract
The aim of this research was to examine the effects of
anxiety upon mothering behaviour and the relationship
between infant and mother. A naturalistic cohort study was
designed to assess the longitudinal adaptation, throughout
the first year of their infant's life, of primiparous
mothers who differed in terms of having high, moderate or
low levels of trait anxiety. Interventions designed to
reduce anxiety were offered to two subgroups of the highly
anxious subjects. Compliance with study requirements and
with the interventions was very high.
Primiparous women (n=627) were screened on state and trait
anxiety measures on the third or fourth day post-partum.
Subgroups (approximately 30 in each) of highly anxious,
moderately anxious and minimally anxious mothers were
obtained. High trait-anxious subjects were further
subdivided by random allocation to one of two intervention
groups - professional or non-professional - or to a high
anxiety control group.
Non-professional intervention comprised allocation to the
subject of an experienced mother who had volunteered to be
available for support, common sense advice and practical
help. Professional intervention comprised assistance from
a social worker who provided support and any professional
strategies indicated, such as specific anti-anxiety
measures or marital therapy.
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Changes in anxiety levels for mothers not receiving an
intervention were minimal over the study period. In the
high-anxiety subgroups, there was a 19% reduction in state
anxiety levels for those receiving a professional
intervention, a 12% reduction for those receiving a nonprofessional
intervention, and a 3% reduction in the
controls. A planned contrast analysis determined that only
professional intervention had a significant effect,
intervention successfully lowering state anxiety levels to
a value comparable with the moderately anxious mothers.