Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Occupational Therapy

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

First Advisor

Gustavo Reinoso

Date of original Performance / Presentation

January 2025

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1-1-2025

Abstract

In this correlational study, the relationship between maternal attachment-fostering behaviors influenced by pregnancy-related mental health and pediatric sensory integration was explored. Using Ayres’ Sensory Integration® theory and the principles of attachment theory as the theoretical framework of the study, quantitative data were collected using the Maternal Postpartum Attachment scale (MPAS), Sensory Processing Measure (SPM), and Structured Observations of Sensory Integration-Motor (SOSI-M). Using statistical analysis, no correlations between the scores of the maternal attachment-fostering behaviors and the scores of the measures of sensory integration were identified. However, the descriptive statistics are the key to the clinical significance of this study. Thirteen of the 14 children assessed had scores that fell in the range of clinical dysfunction on at least one of the sensory integration measures. This percentage is more than four times than expected in a sample of children with no known developmental diagnoses. Differences were noted in the results of caregiver report and performance measures of sensory integration, suggesting using report measures only is insufficient to assess pediatric sensory integration. Unexpected results related to the mothers’ private struggles with their pregnancy-related mental health and the diversity of mental health symptomology reported reflect the complex nature of postpartum maternal mental health. Potential mitigating factors in this study included the severity of maternal mental illness symptomology, maternal sensory integration, and resilience. Small sample size, homogeneity of the sample, and low statistical power were limitations in this study.

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Keywords

attachment; maternal mental health; pediatric development; pregnancy-related mental health; sensory integration

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