The purpose of this study was to explore the social support received and the levels of marital satisfaction of mothers of premature infants who had undergone assisted reproductive technology treatment. The assessment instruments included a ”Taking care of difficulties Scale”, ”Social Support Scale”, ”Marriage Satisfaction Scale”. Two hundred and two structured questionnaires were distributed between June, 2001 and August, 2001, with a response rate of 58.4% (118/202). Our observations demonstrated that gestational age, birth weight, length of hospitalization, complications associated with prematurity, receipt of assisted reproductive technology, and the mother's coming from a large family had a positive correlation with the levels of social support enjoyed by the mothers. Gestational age, experience of hospitalization for tocolysis, father's educational level, and the family's total income were positively correlated with marital satisfaction. The social support received and marital satisfaction of mothers of premature infants were significantly correlated to each other (r=.19, p<.05). The marital satisfaction of such mothers was higher in the antepartum stage than in the premature infant-care giving stage (paired t=5.84, p<.001). This study shows that the social support received by the mothers of premature infants is closely associated with the marital satisfaction of such infants. It is hoped that this study may provide a useful reference to nurses in clinical practice.
The purpose of this study was to explore the social support received and the levels of marital satisfaction of mothers of premature infants who had undergone assisted reproductive technology treatment. The assessment instruments included a ”Taking care of difficulties Scale”, ”Social Support Scale”, ”Marriage Satisfaction Scale”. Two hundred and two structured questionnaires were distributed between June, 2001 and August, 2001, with a response rate of 58.4% (118/202). Our observations demonstrated that gestational age, birth weight, length of hospitalization, complications associated with prematurity, receipt of assisted reproductive technology, and the mother's coming from a large family had a positive correlation with the levels of social support enjoyed by the mothers. Gestational age, experience of hospitalization for tocolysis, father's educational level, and the family's total income were positively correlated with marital satisfaction. The social support received and marital satisfaction of mothers of premature infants were significantly correlated to each other (r=.19, p<.05). The marital satisfaction of such mothers was higher in the antepartum stage than in the premature infant-care giving stage (paired t=5.84, p<.001). This study shows that the social support received by the mothers of premature infants is closely associated with the marital satisfaction of such infants. It is hoped that this study may provide a useful reference to nurses in clinical practice.