The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49913

Debra A. Asselta, RN, MS, Cynthia Royds, Suzanne Herron, RN, NP, C, MPH, and Judy Donlen, RN, DNSc, JD. Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, 2500 McClellan Boulevard, Suite 110, Pennsauken, NJ 08109, 856-665-6000, dasselta@snjpc.org

The NCAST feeding tool has proven to be useful in evaluating maternal infant bonding and nurses have used it to design and implement appropriate maternal education and support services. During NCAST training sessions individual scoring variations were revealed. An investigation was conducted to look at the possibility of correlation between the numerical scores received during a typical infant feeding and the personality type of the mother performing the feeding. The sample consisted of 20 English speaking biological first-time mothers and their infants. A bottle, breast or solid feeding was observed and the interactions or lack of were noted. The feeding instrument measured if the mother was sensitive to her infant’s non-verbal behavior and if she was able to foster the infant’s cognitive abilities. Secondary data used for correlation were mother’s age, educational level, race and employment status. Maternal participants answered a 70-question personality inventory to determine personality type. The feeding scores were then compared to personality types for correlation.

The results demonstrated a correlation between several personality types and higher scores on the feeding instrument. Application to MCH nursing practice, especially implications for nurses working with teen parents will be discussed. Presenter will also discuss the use of self-personality testing and recommendations for an expanded study.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the impact of personality type on caregiver-child interactions as measured by the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale
• List two ways personality type influences the success or failure of educational efforts to enhance parenting skills

Keywords: Adolescents, Caregivers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am an employee of the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative