Recipients of a Parents Supporting Parents Program: Commonalities and Concerns

Abstract

This descriptive study was one component of a research project conducted at a large medical center in the midwest. The purpose of this study was to identify common characteristics and perceived concerns, with their relationships, of a population of parents who had received a volunteer parents supporting parents (P .S . P . ) service . This service was offered to new parents in an attempt to increase the potential for positive pa renting. Common characteristics found in this group of P.S.P. recipients were: married, first baby, mid-twenties in age, mentally and physically healthy with posiive feelings about their own parents, their labor and delivery , and this baby. A number of common maternal characteristics were identified . Thirty-one potential post- natal concerns ranked in order of greatest to least importance showed t h a t 13 of th e top 17 were concerns about the infant Statistically significant correlations were discovered between age of th e i n f a n t and mothers' concerns, mothers' education and concerns regarding infant care , perceptions of infant temperament and adjustment t o motherhood, and an unexpected correlation between length of residence in the city and concerns. Data from this study may be used to plan future services which will address par en ta l concerns within a framework consistent with clients ' characteristics .