Browsing by Author "Ali, Elena"

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    Maternal Prenatal Anxiety, Attachment and Children’s Externalizing and Internalizing Behavioral Problems
    (2020-09-09) Ali, Elena; Letourneau, Nicole Lyn; Giesbrecht, Gerald F.; Benzies, Karen Marie
    Perinatal anxiety is common, and affects up to 15-20% of women during perinatal period (Abrar, Fairbrother, Smith, Skoll, & Albert, 2020). Regarded as a prenatal programming factor (Madigan et al., 2018), prenatal anxiety (PA) is associated with biological, cognitive, and behavioral development in offspring, increasing risk for later externalizing and internalizing problems and adult psychopathology (Finsaas et al., 2018; Vogel, Jackson, Barch, Tillman, & Luby, 2019). Child behavioral development is also influenced by the postpartum anxiety (Madigan et al., 2018; Vogel et al., 2019). Externalizing behaviors are more often observed in boys and internalizing behaviors are more often observed in girls (Martel, 2013). Maternal-child attachment is defined as an affectionate, mutually satisfying relationship between a child and a caregiver that is involved in making the child feel safe, secure, and protected (Bowlby, 1958). Maternal-child attachment may moderate the association between PA and externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems, and function differently for boys and girls. The first manuscript provides a review of women’s experiences with postpartum anxiety, showing that postpartum anxiety is common, and can have serious implications for the maternal-child relationship. The second manuscript consists of a concept analysis of parent-child attachment to advance the application of this concept in nursing practice. The third manuscript presents the results of testing associations between PA and children's behavioral problems, and the role of maternal-child attachment and child sex as moderators of this association. Maternal-child attachment security moderated the association between prenatal anxiety and children’s behavioral problems; however, the sex of the child did not. The final paper describes the sample from which the third paper was derived, the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort, highlighting findings on maternal and paternal mental health from pregnancy to three years postpartum. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for nursing research, policy, education and practice.
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    Understanding the Culture of the Single Room Maternity Care Unit: Ethnographic Study
    (2015-12-09) Ali, Elena; White, Deborah; Raffin, Shelly; Tough, Suzanne
    Single room maternity model of care, where a woman stays in one room throughout her whole childbirth experience, involves continuity of care provider, with the same nurse providing antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. This focused ethnographic study was undertaken to explore the values, beliefs and everyday practices of nurses and other members of the healthcare team at a single room maternity care unit, as they care for childbearing women and their families. Findings revealed two interconnected themes-work family, and creating and maintaining culture- that influenced how members of the care team carried out their daily work related activities. Effective communication and collaborative practice created a supportive and positive working environment, and was key to achieving the goals of patient and family centered care. The unit culture greatly influenced healthcare providers’ perceptions of their roles and daily practices.