Maternal puerperal anxiety and risk for the child development

Abstract

The goal of this research was to analyze possible correlations between the rates of risks in children development and maternal anxiety. The method used was the quantitative descriptive type, with comparative character about the behavioral manifestations of the mother-baby interactive process. The sample was formed by 182 mothers-babies groups. An interview was held, the anxiety scale of Beck was applied, as well as the IRDIs protocol and the interaction of the dyad mother-baby was filmed. The results showed that there is a positive correlation between the presence of risk to the child development and the maternal, anxious state. However, the risk to child development is multifactorial. Moreover, anxiety seems to be a visible symptom, among other possible personal problems that affect the experience of motherhood in some women, and may bring risk to the baby’s development.