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Biomedical subjects

D Koniak-Griffin

Publications and source records attributed to D Koniak-Griffin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Health risks and psychosocial outcomes of early childbearing: a review of the literature.

This article presents a review of the literature on the obstetric, medical, and neonatal health risks as well as psychosocial outcomes associated with early childbearing. An important concern in adolescent pregnancies is the increased risk for infant morbidity and mortality as a result of higher incidence of preterm births and low-birthweight infants. Implications for prenatal and postpartum nursing care are discussed. Promising new models to improve care of young mothers and their children, such as home visitation by public health nurses, are presented and features of successful intervention programs outlined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The impact of physical or sexual abuse on chronic depression in adolescent mothers.

This longitudinal investigation explored the impact of a childhood history of physical and sexual abuse on perinatal depressive symptomatology, suicide attempts, and maternal behavior in an ethnically diverse sample of 95 adolescent mothers. Maternal role attainment theory and the cognitive-interpersonal theory of depression provided the conceptual framework for this study. This investigation helps to expand theory on adolescent maternal role attainment by identifying a relationship between history of abuse, depressive symptoms over time, and maternal role behavior problems. Findings do not indicate that a history of childhood maltreatment alone increases a young mother's risk for maternal-child interaction problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Evaluating the outcomes of parent-child family life education.

Conducted in diverse sociocultural communities in Los Angeles County, the project implemented and evaluated a family life education program designed to prevent the negative outcomes of risky sexual behavior. A sample of 251 male and female early adolescents 9 through 14 years of age participated with their parents in this abstinence-based adolescent pregnancy prevention program. The project sought to improve parent-child communications and delay the onset of sex-related behaviors through direct involvement of parents in the education process. Naturally occurring community groups were randomly assigned by site to treatment or delayed treatment conditions in a longitudinal quasi-experimental evaluation design. The evaluation demonstrated significant improvements in communication between parents and children immediately following the intervention; however, these improvements were no longer present 12 months postintervention. The process and outcome evaluation methods employed in the study triangulated qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis procedures. This combination provided other sources of data than the traditional outcome measures used in most evaluation studies, thus addressing some of the gaps in present program evaluations. Descriptions of the process evaluation, integrated with the outcome data, are intended to heighten nurses' awareness of the importance of this component of research and the rich qualitative data it may yield. The qualitative process components in the project captured the experience of the investigators when they encountered many of the complex challenges that confront researchers who implement and evaluate family life education programs among early adolescents. This experience provided the basis for suggested strategies that nurse clinicians and researchers can use in their work with early adolescents and their parents in clinical-, school-, and community-based settings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

AIDS risk behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes among pregnant adolescents and young mothers.

This study assessed AIDS risk behaviors, knowledge, and related attitudes of pregnant adolescents and young mothers (n = 151). Results revealed that a substantial portion of the sample engaged in sexual behaviors (e.g., unprotected sex and multiple sex partners) that increased their risk for acquiring HIV and possibly transmitting the disease to their children. Knowledge about major modes of HIV transmission was high; however, commonly held misconceptions were expressed concerning the spread of disease and methods of prevention. Results suggest that neither the experience of having an unplanned pregnancy nor knowing about HIV transmission was a sufficient motivator to reduce risk behaviors in this sample.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

The impact of childhood maltreatment on young mothers' violent behavior toward themselves and others.

This report explores the impact of a history of physical and/or sexual child abuse on violent behavior in pregnant youth and adolescent mothers. The sample was composed of 58 pregnant adolescents and 93 young mothers. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine prediction of violent and self-injurious behaviors from presence or absence of childhood maltreatment, substance use variables, and selected sociodemographic factors. Of the subjects, 50% reported a history of child abuse, and nearly 10% reported having made a suicide attempt within the last 12 months. Subjects with a history of abuse were nearly seven times more likely to attempt suicide than those without. Nurses are in a key position to provide comprehensive preventive and health promotion services to pregnant youth with a history of abuse. Health care should include screening to identify victims of violence, evaluation for suicidal ideation and history of attempts, and psychotherapeutic counseling.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Expanding horizons: from bedside nurse to expert witness.

Opportunities for perinatal and neonatal nurses to serve as expert witnesses are expanding, particularly in the area of medical malpractice. The article presents an overview of the role and qualifications of the nurse expert in medical malpractice cases. The phases of involvement in the legal process, from review of medical records to testifying in deposition and at trial, are described. Essential information is presented about factors to consider in formulating an expert opinion and strategies for testifying in medical malpractice lawsuits. A description is provided of the types of malpractice cases that may be on the horizon.

Expert Testimony↗
PubMed1995

Longitudinal effects of unimodal and multimodal stimulation on development and interaction of healthy infants.

The effects of unimodal and multimodal stimulation on mental, psychomotor, and behavioral development of healthy full-term infants were examined longitudinally. Subjects were randomly assigned to a control group or one of three experimental conditions: daily administration of a stroking procedure, placement on a multisensory hammock during sleep periods, or a combination of the two treatments. Interventions were conducted during the first 3 months of life. Data are presented on 49 infants who were available for 24-month follow up. The experimental conditions did not significantly affect scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Eyberg's Child Behavior Inventory, the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scales, or the HOME. These findings suggest that supplementary stimulation provided no benefits beyond those associated with natural caregiving and raise questions about the value of the interventions with nonrisk infants in middle-class families. Additional studies need to be conducted with larger samples of healthy infants to test sensory stimulation protocols before they are advocated for widespread consumer use.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Aerobic exercise, psychological well-being, and physical discomforts during adolescent pregnancy.

The effects of participation in a 6-week aerobic exercise program (AEP) on pregnant adolescents' depression, self-esteem, and physical discomforts of pregnancy were examined. The sample was comprised of 58 ethnically diverse subjects ranging in age from 14 to 20 years. Subjects in the AEP were observed to have a significant decrease in depressive symptoms over time and an increase in total self-esteem; those in the comparison group reported a significant increase in physical discomforts associated with pregnancy. These findings suggest that exercise programs such as the AEP should be considered an important aspect of prenatal self-care for healthy pregnant adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Risk-taking behaviors and AIDS knowledge: experiences and beliefs of minority adolescent mothers.

Using a qualitative focus-group methodology, this study investigated risk-taking behaviors and AIDS knowledge among minority pregnant and parenting adolescents at risk for heterosexual and perinatal transmission of HIV. Seven focus groups were conducted with a total of 48 young women recruited from alternative schools and residential facilities for pregnant adolescents and young mothers in Southern California. Participants also completed a background questionnaire soliciting sociodemographic information and an AIDS knowledge test. The sample included 33 Latinas and 15 African-Americans, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years. There were bipolar findings regarding risk-taking behaviors. At one end of the continuum were young women with a history of one of more of the following behaviors: multiple sex partners, drug and alcohol use, carrying weapons, and participating in gang-related activities. Contrasting with these, were those who had one or two sex partners and no history of alcohol or drug abuse. A majority of the participants were having unprotected sex. A variety of factors affected condom use, including gender inequality, embarrassment, and personal preferences and values. Risk-taking was also influenced by lack of security and safety in daily living, emotion-focused coping and peer pressure.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Social support during adolescent pregnancy: a comparison of three ethnic groups.

This study compared similarities and differences in social support among black, Hispanic, and white pregnant adolescents and determined if support related to prenatal attachment. Participants (n = 161) completed Norbeck's Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ), the Maternal Fetal-Attachment Scale and a background questionnaire. Black pregnant adolescents were found to have significantly lower total functional support scores (emotional and tangible support) than whites. A pattern of performance between ethnic groups was observed for all NSSQ social support variables, with whites obtaining the highest scores, followed by Hispanics and blacks. Although black adolescents identified the least number of individuals in their social network, the proportion of support provided by family was greatest for this ethnic group. The relationship between social support and prenatal attachment was not found to be significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Maternal role attainment.

Maternal role attainment (MRA) is frequently cited in theoretical articles and research published in the nursing literature. This paper presents an historical and empirical review of MRA. Variables influencing MRA are described. New data are presented raising questions about the original conceptualization of MRA and suggesting possible discrete affective and behavioral dimensions of the construct.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Using videotape instruction and feedback to improve adolescents' mothering behaviors.

The effects of videotape instruction and feedback (videotherapy) on mothering behaviors were evaluated in this longitudinal study. In this study, 31 adolescents and their healthy infants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. All subjects were videotaped during structured mother-infant teaching episodes in their homes at 1 and 2 months postpartum. Experimental group subjects reviewed the videotaped 1-month teaching episode and received feedback from a specially trained professional nurse who emphasized positive aspects of maternal behavior. Instruction was individualized according to the mother's needs. Results of a repeated measures MONOVA revealed significant differences in the pattern of change over time between subjects in the experimental and control groups on a measure of actual maternal behaviors. Adolescents receiving videotape instruction and feedback obtained significantly higher maternal behavior scores at 1 and 2 months postpartum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A critique of tertiary prevention with adolescent mothers: rehabilitation after the first pregnancy.

Studies of tertiary prevention programs require complex research designs to yield the most useful data on their effectiveness because of the nature and number of complex situations that pregnant adolescents and mothers face in their lives. Comprehensive intervention designs derived from theory are particularly needed. We are in an early phase of conducting state-of-the-art tertiary prevention research and must continue to strive ahead with our efforts to systematically address the multiple-risk factors that predict poor parenting, educational, and social outcomes in pregnant and parenting adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of manometer use in manual ventilation of infants in neonatal intensive care units.

Variations exist in the techniques used to perform manual ventilation in neonates and in the proficiency levels of nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) who perform the procedure. This study was undertaken to determine (1) whether significant differences exist in nurses' ability to control prescribed peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) accurately when mamometers are used, as compared with when they are not used, during manual ventilation in NICU infants; and (2) whether the number of years of work experience nurses have in the NICU is related to manometer use and success in controlling prescribed PIP. The sample included 60 professional nurses whose experience ranged from 1 to 26 years. A statistically significant difference was found in nurses' ability to control PIP successfully when manometers were used as compared with when they were not used (t = 12.04, p = 0.001). Nurses with more experience tended to rely less on manometers to guide their manual ventilation techniques, but were also less accurate in controlling the delivery of PIP without the devices. We provide recommendations for clinical practice based on these findings.

Educational Status↗
PubMed1989

Psychosocial and clinical variables in pregnant adolescents. A survey of maternity home residents.

Substantial research exists about pregnant adolescents, but there are few studies focusing on this population in residential maternity homes. This survey was designed to gather data about demographic and clinical characteristics, self-esteem, and social support available to adolescents in two maternity homes in Los Angeles. Adolescents' attachment to their unborn fetus was also evaluated. The culturally diverse sample included 90 unmarried subjects between 14 and 19 years of age. Results suggest that adolescents in maternity homes possess many of the same attributes as pregnant adolescents in the larger community. Self-esteem scores of residents of the Self-Esteem Inventory (mean = 66.67) were similar to those reported in other studies of pregnant adolescents. There was great variation found in the quantity and quality of functional social support received by residents. Family (97.8%) and friends (78.8%) were identified as significant individuals in the social network of the residents. Although the majority of adolescents had not planned their pregnancy, their scores on the prenatal attachment questionnaire supported a positive affiliation with their fetus. Based on these findings, recommendations are offered for programs to facilitate the development of self-esteem and support-enhancing skills of pregnant adolescents living in residential maternity homes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The relationship between social support, self-esteem, and maternal-fetal attachment in adolescents.

Limited information is available about factors related to prenatal attachment in adolescents. In this study, relationships among self-esteem, social support, and maternal-fetal attachment were examined. A culturally diverse sample of 90 adolescents between 14 and 19 years of age was recruited from two of the three licensed residential maternity homes in Los Angeles County. The four research instruments administered included: a background questionnaire, Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory, Norbeck's Social Support Questionnaire, and Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. Although nonsignificant correlations were found between total maternal-fetal attachment scores and measures of self-esteem and social support, four key variables were identified through regression analyses. These significant predictors of prenatal attachment were total functional support, total size of network, planning of pregnancy, and intent to keep the infant. Implications for clinical practice are discussed related to these findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Temperament in infancy: stability, change, and correlates.

The present study investigated whether temperament categories and diagnoses of the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (RITQ) remain stable during infancy. Additionally, the relationships between RITQ ratings and scores on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development were evaluated. The sample included 79 nonrisk infants. The results indicate that most categories of temperament, as well as diagnostic clusters, remain stable from 4 to 8 months of life. The majority of NBAS dimensions and Bayley mental scores were not significantly associated with temperament ratings. The antecedents of ratings of infants' difficultness were similarly unidentified by mothers' perceptions of their infant's behavior.

Adaptation, Psychological↗