Dr. Mercer began her research on maternal role attainment in the late 1960’s. The framework for her research reflects concepts of Rubin’s model of role identity and attachment. Mercer also incorporated Mead’s role enactment, Turner’s care of self, Thorton’s and Nardis’ role acquisition, and von Bertalanfly’s systems theory to expand her framework. These theories are models of movement or transition that portray multiple influences on maternal role attachment (Meigham, chapter27).
The multiple influences and variables of interest of maternal role overlaps one another. They are: maternal identity, perception of birth experience, self-esteem, self-concept, flexibility, child-rearing attitudes, health status, anxiety, depression, role strain-role concept, gratification-satisfaction, attachment, infant temperament, infant health, infant characteristics, infant cues, family-functioning, intimate partner, stress, social support, and mother-father relationship. While these variables are fluid they progression to maternal role attainment. Using these interactive variables and perceptions, Mercer explains how a mother and infant move toward maternal role attainment. Because being a mother requires one to continually change and adapt to the infants developmental stages, Mercer renamed he theory from maternal role attainment to …show more content…
So how do nurses assist with this transformation? The community hospital that my students are currently attending for their maternal/child rotation is very small and serves a lower socioeconomic area. Many of the mothers are very young, of different cultural backgrounds, and have little or no prenatal care. The state of Kentucky recognizes the need for good consistent prenatal care. The Medicaid program now gives incentives to ensure that these mothers get regular check-ups by providing such things as car seats, strollers, and breast
The multiple influences and variables of interest of maternal role overlaps one another. They are: maternal identity, perception of birth experience, self-esteem, self-concept, flexibility, child-rearing attitudes, health status, anxiety, depression, role strain-role concept, gratification-satisfaction, attachment, infant temperament, infant health, infant characteristics, infant cues, family-functioning, intimate partner, stress, social support, and mother-father relationship. While these variables are fluid they progression to maternal role attainment. Using these interactive variables and perceptions, Mercer explains how a mother and infant move toward maternal role attainment. Because being a mother requires one to continually change and adapt to the infants developmental stages, Mercer renamed he theory from maternal role attainment to …show more content…
So how do nurses assist with this transformation? The community hospital that my students are currently attending for their maternal/child rotation is very small and serves a lower socioeconomic area. Many of the mothers are very young, of different cultural backgrounds, and have little or no prenatal care. The state of Kentucky recognizes the need for good consistent prenatal care. The Medicaid program now gives incentives to ensure that these mothers get regular check-ups by providing such things as car seats, strollers, and breast