MODIFYING THE PREMATURITY STEREOTYPE IN MOTHERS OF PREMATURE AND ILL FULL-TERM INFANTS

Tested the efficacy of an information-based intervention in reducing prematurity stereotyping in 43 mothers of premature infants and in 32 mothers of ill full-term infants. Mothers either read a paragraph that stressed the similarities between premature and full-term infant development or were given no information about infant development. The mothers then viewed two videotapes of 9-month-old full-term infants, one described as full term and one described as premature. Mothers who received no prior information about infant development rated the infants labeled premature as littler, less sociable, less cognitively competent, less behaviorally appealing, and less physically potent than infants labeled full term. Stressing similarities in premature and full-term infant development largely eliminated the prematurity stereotype. The application of these findings to hospital-based intervention with mothers of high-risk newborns is discussed.