Abstract

In this study we investigated if Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) could Influence emotional state in mothers of preterm babies. We also focused on the impact of ART on mother-child interaction at 3 months (corrected age). The participants were 14 mothers ART and 30 mothers NON-ART with their children (31 ART, 38 NON-ART). The data were collected at birth (Time 1) and at the infant's 3 months - corrected age (Time 2). In both cases (Time 1, Time 2) moth- ers completed Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory and Parenting Stess Index/Short Form. At Time 2 mother-child interaction was videotaped during feeding and then the videos were rated with the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (NCAFS). The comparison of ART mothers with NON-ART mothers showed no group differences on measures of anxiety, depression and parental distress. The NCAFS revealed better mother-child interaction in the ART dyads; in particular ART mothers were more prone to promote socio-emotional and cognitive growth in their children than NON-ART mothers.