Coping and parental role competence of mothers of preterm infant

The study was aimed at obtaining knowledge about mothers' experiences of preterm birth. The objective of the study is to explore coping strategies and self- perceived parental competence, in mothers of infant born moderately and severely preterm and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). METHODS: The study involved a group of 16 mothers of moderately preterm children (weeks' gestational age: mean=34, SD=2 and birth weight: mean=2000 g, SD=200 g) and a group of 14 mothers of severely preterm children (weeks' gestational age: mean=29, SD=2 and birth weight: mean=1700 g, SD=350 g). The following instruments were used with mothers to investigate focus areas of research: Coping Ori…