DSpace Repository :: Browsing by Author "Mira, Andrea"

Browsing by Author "Mira, Andrea"

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Cultural Adaptation of the Spanish Version of the Perceptions of Play Scale
(2019) Coo, Soledad; Aldoney, Daniela; Mira, Andrea; López, Mauricio
Objective Play is crucial for healthy child development; yet, the time dedicated to free play during the pre-school years has decreased in both school and home environments. Parental beliefs influence the activities in which children engage in daily life; therefore, exploring these beliefs is a first step to understand possible reasons for the decreased frequency of free play. Instruments developed for this purpose are scarce and, to date, none of them is available in Spanish. We adapted and assessed the psychometric properties of the Perceptions of Play Scale (PPS) and developed the Spanish version of the instrument (i.e., PPS-S). Method We followed Beaton and colleagues’ Guidelines for the cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures, which describes two stages, namely translation and adaptation of the instrument, and assessment of its psychometric properties. During the first stage, a panel of 5 experts developed the preliminary version of the PPS-S. This version of the scale was piloted in a sample of 28 early childhood educators and parents of preschool children, whose feedback informed the development of the final version of the instrument. During the second stage, 452 parents of pre-school children completed the PPS-S to assess its psychometric properties. Results An Exploratory Factor analysis showed high to excellent reliabilities for the three PPS-S subscales and the complete questionnaire. The PPS-S is a valuable, culturally sensitive tool for exploring parental beliefs about three aspects of play (i.e., frequency, playful character, and academic contribution) and could contribute to studies to promote this activity in Chilean children.
Examining the association between subjective childbirth experience and maternal mental health at six months postpartum
(2021) Coo, Soledad; García, María Ignacia; Mira, Andrea
Problem Childbirth experience can have long-lasting effects on maternal wellbeing. Background Positive childbirth experiences may strengthen maternal self-confidence, in contrast, negativeexperiences may promote a sense of failure or distrust. Aim To examine the contribution of maternal hospital childbirth experience on mental health at 6 months postpartum in a community-based, Chilean sample. An additional aim is to examine which childbirth-related aspects contribute to the global birth experience. Methods One hundred and forty-eight women completed self-report measures of mental health during the third trimester of pregnancy and 3 and 6 months postpartum. At 3months after childbirth, subjective childbirth experience was assessed. Logistic regression analysis examined the contribution of childbirth experience to maternal mental health. Findings Negative subjective experience of childbirth contributes to maternal depression and anxiety up to 6 months after childbirth, controlling for mental health during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum. Quality of care from health professionals made the largest, statistically significant contribution to the global perception of childbirth. Discussion and Conclusions Subjective experience of childbirth is a modifiable risk factor for the development of postpartum maternal depression and anxiety. Health providers in direct contact with childbearing women may promote maternal emotional wellbeing through sensitive and respectful care.
Interactions between mothers and their moderate preterm babies during hospitalization
(2022) Mira, Andrea; Coo, Soledad; Bastías Lemp, Rodolfo; González, Ricardo
Moderately preterm infants are physiologically immature, their brains must mature and adapt to the extrauterine environment, which can affect their neurological development. Interaction with their caregivers is crucial for their development, however, these may show mental health problems such as depressive symptoms and parental stress. Objective: to evaluate how depressive symptomatology and stress perception of mothers of moderately preterm infants during hospitalization may affect dyad interaction. Patients and Method: 85 dyads participated. During the second and third weeks of hospitalization, mothers answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the parental stress scale, and the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Mother-infant interaction was assessed and coded with the Hospitalized other-Infant Bonding Observation Scale. Results: mothers of moderately preterm infants hospitalized in a neonatology unit may present significant depressive symptomatology which correlate with the stress experienced by the mother. Parental stress and being small for gestational age showed a negative association with dyad interactions. Conclusions: Having a moderately preterm baby can impact the mental health of mothers and this, at the same time, is related to the interactions they have with their children. Likewise, variables related to the babies were detected that can also decrease the interactions and contact between the dyad.
Mothers, fathers and educators’ beliefs about play in Chilean preschool children
(2022) Aldoney, Daniela; Coo, Soledad; Mira, Andrea; Valdivia, María Josefina
Robust data exist on the relation between play and children’s positive development. Yet, the time children devote to play has decreased in the last decades. Guided by the premise that adults’ beliefs about play are related to the way in which adults promote it, we asked 380 mothers, 89 fathers, and 83 early childhood educators in Santiago, Chile, about their beliefs about play and its relation to academic learning. Results showed similarities and differences in the value given to free and structured play and electronic activities by the three groups of participants. Participants differed in the academic value of play by socioeconomic status but agreed on the value of play in children’s academic skills. Fathers valued electronic activities more than mothers and early childhood educators. Data from this study may inform interventions and curriculum to foster play as an essential tool for child development in Chile.
Mother’s mental health and the interaction with her moderate preterm baby in the NICU
(2022) Mira, Andrea; Coo, Soledad; Bastías, Rodolfo
Introduction: Moderate preterm infants, born between 320/7 and 336/7 weeks, represent a significant number of preterm-born infants; however, they remain a poorly studied group despite their vulnerability. The objective of this correlational study is to describe the impact of having a moderate preterm infant hospitalised in the NICU on the mothers’ mental health and how this relates to the interaction between the dyad. Method: During the hospitalisation period, 85 moderate preterm mother-infant dyads participated in this study. The participants provided self-reports of depression, parental stress, and skin to skin and breastfeeding practices. Also, mother-infant interaction was assessed in the NICU with an observational scale. Results: Mothers evidenced high levels of stress and depressive symptoms during the hospitalization. The stress experienced by these women was significant, although weakly, associated with the interaction with their babies; and mothers of small for gestational age babies showed difficulties in this area. Conclusions: The results of this study could represent a contribution to a better understanding of the relation between the characteristics of moderate preterm babies, maternal emotional wellbeing, and the quality of mother-infant interactions in NICU settings.
Salud mental en madres en el período perinatal
(2021) Coo, Soledad; García Valdés, María Ignacia; Mira, Andrea; Zamudio Berrocal, Paulina
La gestación y el postparto son periodos de especial vulnerabilidad para el desarrollo de cuadros de salud mental materna, que impactan negativamente en la salud e interacción materno-infantil. La mayoría de los estudios se han enfocado en la depresión, siendo la ansiedad menos estudiada, pese a su alta prevalencia. Objetivos: Evaluar la prevalencia de tamizaje positivo para cuadros ansiosos y depresivos en una muestra de mujeres inscritas en centros de salud primaria públicos en Chile y la asociación de estos síntomas con los factores de riesgo específicos. Sujetos y Método: 158 mujeres completaron cuestionarios de auto reporte (Escala de Edimburgo y Escala de ansiedad perinatal) durante el tercer trimestre de gestación y a los 3 y 6 meses postparto. Se realizaron análisis para evaluar la prevalencia y evolución de los síntomas y posibles diferencias en salud mental de acuerdo a variables sociodemográficas. Resultados: Durante el periodo perinatal se identificó una prevalencia entre 41,3% y 44,3% de sintomatología ansiosa elevada y de 13,9% a 20,9% para los síntomas elevados de depresión. Se destaca la relevancia del apoyo percibido, nivel educacional materno y antecedentes de aborto espontáneo, para la salud mental de la mujer durante la transición a la maternidad. Conclusiones: Los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión perinatal son prevalentes, iniciativas para identificar a mujeres en riesgo y para promover factores protectores, como el apoyo social, son necesarias para aumentar el bienestar de las mujeres y sus familias.
The Role of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression in Breastfeeding Practices
(2020) Coo, Soledad; García, Maria Ignacia; Mira, Andrea; Valdés, Verónica
Objective: Maternal mental health difficulties are common during the perinatal period and have a negative impact on breastfeeding practices. Most research has focused on the role of postpartum depression, whereas maternal anxiety has been less studied, despite its high prevalence. A better understanding of the mental health variables that impact breastfeeding practices is necessary to support maternal and infant health and well-being. The aim of this study is to explore the association between breastfeeding practices and maternal mental health, with an emphasis on maternal anxiety. Materials and Methods: Two hundred twenty-nine women were followed from the third trimester of gestation to 3 and 6 months postpartum. The participants provided self-reports of depression, anxiety, and breastfeeding practices. Mental health symptoms were compared between participants who reported exclusive versus mixed breastfeeding at 3 months postpartum, and between mothers who maintained breastfeeding versus those who had weaned their infants at 6 months postpartum. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the variables contributing to breastfeeding practices. Results: High levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy were associated to nonexclusive breastfeeding at 3 months postpartum. At 3 months postpartum, both high levels of anxiety and depression were associated with nonexclusive breastfeeding at that time. Logistic regression analyses revealed that exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months postpartum predicted breastfeeding continuation at 6 months after childbirth. Conclusion: Both maternal depression and anxiety negatively impact breastfeeding practices. Early identification of maternal mental health problems during the perinatal period is relevant to promote maternal emotional well-being and to prevent breastfeeding difficulties.

Browsing by Author "Mira, Andrea"

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