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Article Citation - WoS: 6Citation - Scopus: 8Preterm Birth and Maternal Sensitivity: Findings From a Non-Western Country(Elsevier Science inc, 2020) Akkus, P. Zengin; Saygan, B. Bahtiyar; Bahadur, E. Ilter; Ozdemir, G.; Ozmert, E. N.; Bahtiyar Saygan, B.; Ilter Bahadur, E.; Zengin Akkus, P.Introduction: Although there are several studies on maternal sensitivity of preterm-born children conducted in Western countries, the factors affecting the sensitivity of mothers of preterm infants have not been investigated outside the Western context. Objectives: This study aimed to compare maternal sensitivity of preterm children at 18 months of corrected age with their healthy term-born peers and explore the factors associated with maternal sensitivity in a middle-income non-Western country. Moreover, the associations of maternal sensitivity with socio-demographic factors, maternal depression, and social-emotional competency and behavior problems of infants were investigated. Methods: In total, 70 (40 preterm-born and 30 term-born) mother-child dyads participated in this study. An observation-based measurement tool, Maternal Sensitivity Scale, was used to assess maternal sensitivity. Social-emotional competency and behavior problems of infants were evaluated via The Turkish version of the Brief Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed via the Beck Depression Inventory. In addition, a demographic information form was filled out by the mothers. Results: Maternal sensitivity scores of preterm infants were significantly lower compared to term infants. Depressive symptoms scores and employment status of mothers, socio-economic status (SES), gestational age, breastfeeding duration, and behavior problems of children were the factors related to maternal sensitivity scores. In hierarchical regression analysis, SES and gestational age were the strongest predictors of maternal sensitivity. After controlling SES and gestational age, maternal depressive symptoms scores negatively predicted maternal sensitivity scores. Conclusion: This study pointed out the factors associated with the maternal sensitivity of preterm infants outside the Western context. Interventions to improve sensitive parenting behaviors of preterm infants are needed, especially in socio-economically disadvantaged groups.Article Citation - WoS: 3Citation - Scopus: 3Longitudinal Changes in Attachment Patterns of Preterm Infants Born in a Non-Western Country(Wiley, 2021) Akkus, P. Zengin; Saygan, B. Bahtiyar; Bahadur, E. Ilter; Ozdemir, G.; Celik, H. T.; Ozmert, E. N.; Bahtiyar Saygan, B.; Ilter Bahadur, E.; Zengin Akkus, P.Unexpected early birth of an infant may affect the attachment formation of mother-child dyads. This longitudinal study aimed to explore mother-infant attachment patterns of very preterm (VPT) and preterm (PT) infants compared to their term-born peers in a non-Western country. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants, maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic features were evaluated to explore their effects on attachment. Eighteen VPT, 11 PT, 11 term infants and their mothers participated. Observations of attachment patterns and neurodevelopmental assessments were performed at 18 and 24 months of corrected age. This study identified a change in attachment patterns of VPT infants over time such that VPT infants tended to have less insecure attachment patterns with their mothers at the end of the infancy period. While motor and language development scores were associated with attachment patterns at 18 months, models predicting attachment patterns were no longer significant at 24 months. Therefore, change in VPT infants' developmental outcomes and attachment patterns over time suggests that preterm birth itself is not necessarily a risk factor for developing insecure attachment patterns; yet, developmental delays may account for insecure attachment patterns. It is suggested that efforts to promote developmental outcomes of preterm infants may improve mother-child attachment.

