Relationship between Subjective Evaluation of Maternal Sense of Coherence and Infant Motor Development

Abstract

Research background. Depressive mothers are less interested in the development of the infant and therefore have less knowledge about infant’s development. It can affect mother’s attitude towards the infant. Many sources state that a poor sense of coherence (SOC) is associated with increased stress, also SOC is one of the risk factors for depression. So, there is possibility that mother’s SOC can affect motor development of infant.

The aim of the study was to evaluate relationship between subjective evaluation of maternal sense of coherence and infant motor development.

Research methods. Forty-one mothers were surveyed by five questionnaires: sociodemographic block, Sense of Coherence Scale, Coherence with a baby scale, Daily hassles scale, and Alberta Infant Motor Scale, which was modified into a questionnaire to allow mothers independently evaluate their baby’s motor development.

Research results. According to the study, mothers under severe stress had a statistically significant lower mean score of SOC (44.9 ± 7.89) compared to mothers who did not experience severe stress (49.9 ± 4.61) (p = 0.01). A strong correlation was observed between maternal sense of coherence and coherence with the baby (r = 0.72; p = 0.003). Subjective evaluation of infants’ motor development done by their mothers did not depend on the Sense of Coherence (r = 0.13; p = 0.14). There was no significant relationship between motor development of infants and maternal Sense of Coherence (r = 0.03; p = 0.40).

Conclusion. Mothers with a strong sense of coherence also had strong coherence with the infant. Maternal Sense of Coherence had no statistically significant relationship with the baby’s motor development.

Keywords: Sense of coherence, mother’s coherence with infant, postpartum depression, motor development.