Taiko Hirose

Differences and Similarities between Father-Infant Interaction and Mother-Infant Interaction

The aim of this study was to compare father-infant interaction with mother-infant interaction, and explore differences and similarities between parents. Related factors for quality of father-infant interaction were also examined. Sixteen pairs of parents with infants aged 0 to 36 months were observed for play interaction between parents and their children. Results suggested no significant differences between parents, but childrens interactions were significantly more contingent with fathers than mothers (p =.045). Significant correlations between parents were found in socialemotional growth fostering encouragement for children during interaction (ρ =.73, p =.001). Paternal depressive symptoms were significantly correlated to paternal sensitivity to childs cues (ρ =-.59, p =.017).

Neurobehaviors of Japanese Newborns in Relation to the Characteristics of Early Mother-Infant Interaction.

The authors examined the relationship between newborn neurobehavioral profiles and the characteristics of early mother-infant interaction in Nagasaki, Japan. The authors administered the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS; T. B. Brazelton & J. K. Nugent, 1995) in the newborn period and the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale at 1 month (NCATS; G. Sumner & A. Spietz, 1994). They administered the Perceived Stress Scale (S. Cohen, T. Kamarck, & R. Mermelstein, 1983) as an index of maternal stress experienced over the past month. Lower irritability, higher stability in skin coloration, and lower tremulousness in the neonatal period were correlated with higher levels of maternal nurturing behaviors at 1 month. Birth weight and 2 NBAS range-of-state items (peak of excitement, irritability) predicted 31% of the variance in NCATS caregiver subscale score. The NBAS autonomic stability items (tremulousness, startles, lability of skin color) predicted 31% of the variance in the NCATS child subscale score. Perceived stress and maternal sociodemographic variables (education, income, age, parity) were not associated with child, caregiver, and total scores on the NCATS. The results suggested that lack of autonomic stability in Japanese neonates might serve as an early indicator of infant frailty, negative behavioral cues, and decreased maternal responsiveness.

Preliminary early intervention study using Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale in Japan

Background: Mother–infant interactions have been acknowledged as one of the most important elements in measuring outcomes of parent support and infant mental health interventions. The present study was conducted to measure early intervention outcomes using the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS), and to identify factors that affected Japanese mother–infant interactions.

Interactions Between Depressed Mothers and Their Infants: Maternal Verbal Joint Attention and its Effect on the Infant's Cognitive Development

This study compared the interaction between depressed and nondepressed mother‐infant dyads with joint attention during mother‐infant play. The cognitive development of the child was analyzed as an outcome of the interactions. The sample consisted of 41 mothers and their infants who were 13 and 18 months of age. Twenty‐three mothers were depressed and 19 mothers were nondepressed. In the total sample, maternal vocal joint attention for a female infant was more frequent than for a male infant. In the depression group alone the maternal verbal Joint attention to/about a female Infant was more frequent than to/about a male infant. In the control group alone there were no differences in maternal vocal joint attention between boys and girls. In addition, for the total sample, there was a correlation for boys between maternal verbal joint attention and the Bayley MDI, but no correlation for the girls. In the depression group, there was no correlation between maternal joint attention and the Bayley MDI for both b...

Parenting stress related to raising infants receiving treatment for retinoblastoma

Michie Nagayoshi*, Taiko Hirose, Kyoko Toju, Shigenobu Suzuki, Motoko Okamitsu, Takahide Omori, Aki Kawamura and Naoko Takeo Graduate School of Health Care Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan Department of Ophthalmic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan Department of Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan Faculty of Nursing and Nutrition, Department of Nursing, Shukutoku University, Chiba, Japan

Gender, age, and cultural differences in the Japanese version of the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment

This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of the Japanese version of the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (J-ITSEA), a parentreport questionnaire concerning social-emotional/behavioral problems and delays in competence in 1- to 3-year-old children. The differences in score between genders, ages, and between the J-ITSEA and the original Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment were examined. The data of 617 participants recruited from Saitama prefecture through stratified two-stage sampling were analyzed. The Cronbachs alpha ranged from 0.76 to 0.93. Gender differences emerged for some problems and all competence scales, with boys rated higher in the Externalizing problem domain and Activity/Impulsivity subscale and girls rated higher in the Internalizing problem domain, Inhibition to Novelty subscale, and all Competence scales. The Competence domain score increased across age groups. Compared with a normative sample in the US, participants in this study rated higher in Aggression/Defiance and Separation Distress, and rated lower in Peer Aggression and most of the Competence scales. The results indicate that the J-ITSEA scores should be interpreted in comparison with standard scores assigned for gender and 6-month age groups, and that specific criteria for the cut-off points for the J-ITSEA are required instead of those in the original questionnaire.

Nursing Intervention in Infant Mental Health: Enhancing Mother-Infant Interaction and Self-Esteem of Adolescent Mothers

The study was an exploratory pilot study in which subjects consisted of adolescent mothers and their infants in Japan. Background: Japanese adolescents giving birth to their babies are increasing although only at a rate of 1.4%. They chose to give birth more often instead of abortion than in past years. In Japanese society, it is not easy for an adolescent to be recognized as a mother because their knowledge is not sufficient for parenting and they are not ready to be a mother. They usually need support to be a mother. Purpose: The study examined relationships among adolescent mother-infant interaction, maternal self-esteem, and parenting stress, which affect child development, in order to make recommendations for helping Japanese adolescent mothers in parenting. Methods: The subjects were 10 adolescent mothers and their infants aged 3–12 months (adolescent group) and 10 mothers whose mean age was 28.9 years, the same age range when Japanese women gave birth to their first baby (comparison group). This study examined differences in mother-infant interaction, self-esteem, and parenting stress between the adolescent and comparison groups. Results: Maternal self-esteem had a significant negative correlation with mother-infant interaction and parenting stress. Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale scores-especially the “Sensitivity to Cues” subscale-among the adolescent group were significantly lower than those of the comparison group. High parenting stress was influenced by difficulty in understanding about infant and a restraint coming from the parenting role. Conclusion: Delicately reading of child cues and promptly an appropriately responds to them make more attuned mother-infant relationships. The study suggested that adolescent mother-infant relationship has positive correlation of maternal self-esteem and parenting stress, informing recommendations for nurses to replace their negative selfimage of these youth with a positive one, which may ultimately lessen parenting stress.

Measuring Japanese mothers' perception of child abuse: development of a Japanese version of the child abuse blame scale--physical abuse (CABS-PA-J).

BackgroundThe Child Abuse Blame Scale – Physical Abuse (CABS-PA) was translated into Japanese and its subscale items modified by the authors according to the Japanese cultural context. The aim of the current study was to investigate the appropriateness, reliability, and clinical applicability of the CABS-PA Japanese version (CABS-PA-J). Modifications were made to enable the determination of child abuse recognition in a Japanese cultural setting and early clinical intervention in child abuse cases.MethodsThe CABS-PA text was translated into Japanese, then back translated. The appropriateness of scale item translations was verified based on e-mail discussions with the original CABS-PA author. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to examine the validity of CABS-PA-J responses and to confirm the validity of factor structure. Criterion-related validity was also confirmed. The Japanese scale was used to examine the characteristic differences between mothers of premature infants (< 1500 g) and those of other infants (≧ 1500 g).ResultsExploratory and confirmatory factor analyses found the factor structure to be similar between the original scale and the translated CABS-PA-J, suggesting adequate factor validity. There was a statistically significant correlation between social support from a spouse or third party and the abuse score on a subscale, partially demonstrating criterion-referenced validity. Similarities and differences were found in the stress reactions of the mothers of premature infants (< 1500 g) and those of other infants (≧ 1500 g).ConclusionCABS-PA-J was shown to be appropriate and reliable. It is an effective tool for determining the recognition of child abuse among Japanese mothers.