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Maternal Chronological Age, Prenatal and Perinatal History, Social Support, and Parenting of Infants

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: The role of maternal chronological age in prenatal and perinatal history, social support, and parenting practices of new mothers (N=335) was examined. Primiparas of 5-month-old infants ranged in age from 13 to 42 years. Age effects were zero, linear, and nonlinear. Nonlinear age effects were significantly associated up to a certain age with little or no association afterward; by spline regression, estimated points at which the slope of the regression line changed were 25 years for prenatal and perinatal history, 31 years for social supports, and 27 years for parenting practices. Given the expanding age range of first-time parents, these findings underscore the importance of incorporating maternal age as a factor in studies of parenting and child development.

Source: Child Development

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2006.00908.x

Authors: Marc H Bornstein, Diane L Putnick, Joan T D Suwalsky, Motti Gini

Institution: National Institutes of Health

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institutes of Health