Perceptions and Attitudes towards Infant-s Physical Health and Caring: Immigrants and Native Born Mothers
Purpose: To compare attitudes and perceptions of
Israeli native born mothers versus former Soviet Union (FSU)
immigrant mothers regarding the physical health of their infant.
Methodology: cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 50
participants was recruited by face to face and snowball technique. A
questionnaire was constructed according to the instructions of the
Ministry of Health for the care and treatment of infants. The main
areas explored were: sources of knowledge that the young mother
acquired regarding the care of her infant, ways of caring for the
infant, hygiene and sanitary habits, and the pattern of referral to
health professionals. The last topic relates to emotions mothers might
experience towards their infant.
Results: Mothers from both cultural groups present some similar
caring behaviors, which may express a universal aspect of mothers'
behavior towards their infants. However, immigrant mothers differ
significantly from native born by relying less on their mothers' and
grandmothers' experience, they wean their infants from diapers
earlier, they are stricter about hygiene and sanitary habits and they
tend to consult a physician when their infant has low fever. Native
born and immigrant mothers differ in their expressions of pride and
wonder. Immigrant mothers report of a lesser degree of these
emotions towards their infants than native born mothers.
Conclusion: The theoretical model of socialization and
acculturation of immigrant mothers is employed as an explanatory
model for the current findings Young immigrant mothers undergo a
complex acculturation process and adapt behavioral patterns in
various areas to comply with Israeli norms and values, demonstrating
assimilation. In other areas they adhere to the norms of their original
culture.
[1] The Central Bureau of Statistics. Statistical abstract of Israel, 59, 2008.
[2] E. Leshem. "Israel as a multi-cultural state at the turn of the century", in
Cultural diversity: a challenge to human services, E. Leshem & D. Roer-
Strier Eds. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 2003. (Hebrew).
[3] V. Slonim-Nevo, Y. Shraga, Y. "Family Intervention among Soviet
Immigrants", in Being different in Israel: ethnicity, gender and therapy,
C. Rabin Ed. Ramot: Tel Aviv, 1999, pp. 121-151.
[4] L. Melendez. "Parental beliefs and practices around early selfregulation:
the impact of culture and immigration". Infants & Young
Children, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 136-146, 2005.
[5] K. von Klitzing. "Cultural influences on early family relationships".
Infant Mental Health Journal, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 618-620, 2006.
[6] D. Roer-Strier. "Coping of immigrant parents: Implications for
prevention and intervention", Society and Welfare, vol.16, no. 4, pp.
467-481, 1996. (Hebrew).
[7] D. Roer-Strier, M.K. Rosenthal. "Socialization in changing cultural
contexts: a search for images of an adaptive adult". Social Work, vol. 46,
no. 3, pp. 215-228, 2001.
[8] D. Roer-Strier, M.K. Rosenthal. "Cultural transition: Effects on
parenting and socialization", in Immigrants from the former Soviet
Union in the 1990s: cultural transition and identity. M. Lisak, E. Leshem
Eds. Jerusalem: SilbertCenter, Hebrew University, 2000.
[9] J. Mirsky. "Psychological aspects of immigration and absorption of
immigrants from the soviet union", in Profile of an immigration wave.
M. Sikron, E. Leshem Eds. Jerusalem: the Magnes press, 1998, pp. 334-
367. (Hebrew).
[10] R. Berger. "Immigrants from former soviet union: characteristics,
principles and interventions" in Being different in Israel: ethnicity,
gender and therapy. C. Rabin Ed. Ramot: Tel Aviv, 1999, pp.97-121.
(Hebrew).
[11] A, Jukova. A particular method for infant development. Ulma Press
Moscow, 2002. (Russian).
[12] S. Martinov. Be well, child. A-factoria Press: Aktirenburg, 2006.
(Russian).
[13] Israeli Ministry of Health. Instructions for the care and treatment babies
and premature born babies. 1977-2006. Available:
http://www.babydoc.co.il/article-397.htm.
[14] P. Ekman. "Basic emotions", in Handbook of cognition and emotion. T.
Dalgleish, M. Power Eds. Sussex: UK: John Wiley & Sons, 1999.
[15] J.W. Berry. "Conceptual approaches to acculturation in acculturation:
advances in theory, measurement and applied research". K.M. Chun,
P.B. Organista, G. Marín, Eds. Washington, D.C.: American
Psychological Assoc, 2003, pp. 17-37.
[16] V. Kishinevsky. Russian immigrants in the United States: adapting to
American culture. New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing, 2004.
[17] H. Keller. "Human parent-child relationships from an evolutionary
perspective", American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 43, no.6, pp. 957-969,
2000.
[18] N.D. Stern." Mothers' emotional needs". Pediatrics, vol. 102, no. 5, pp.
1250-1252, 1998.
[19] B. Rosen, I. Elroy, N. Nirel. Findings from a national survey of mothers
regarding preventive services to their infants. Jeruslem: The Myers-JDCBrookdale
Institute, 2007. (Hebrew).
[20] D.N. Stern, N. Bruschweiler-Stern, A. Freeland. Birth of a mother: how
the motherhood experience changes you forever. New York: Perseus
Books, 1998.
[21] J. Mirsky, L. Praver. To immigrate as an adolescent to mature as an
immigrant. Jerusalem: Van Leer Institute and the Association for the
Development and Advancement of Manpower in Social Services in
Israel, 1992. (Hebrew).
[22] J. Mirsky. "Not there and not here yet: identity process with Israel
among students immigrants from the soviet union", in From Russia to
Israel: identity and culture in transition. M. Lisak, E. Leshem Eds. Tel-
Aviv: ha-Kibbutz ha-meuhad, 2001, pp. 175-195. (Hebrew).
[23] G. Horenczyk. "The benefits of multiple identities: implications from
studies on cultural indentuty and adaptation", in Cultural diversity: a
challenge to human services. E. Leshem D. Roer-Strier Eds. Jerusalem:
Magnes Press, 2003. (Hebrew).
[24] C. Slutzki. "Migration and family conflict". Family Process, vol. 18, pp.
379-390, 1979.
[25] C.Y. Tardif, E. Geva. "The link between acculturation disparity and
conflict among Chinese-Canadian immigrant mother-adolescent dyads".
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 37, 191-211, 2006.
[26] K. Gaffney, M. Kodadek, M. Meuse, G. Jones. "Assessing infant health
promotion: A cross-cultural comparison". Clinical Nursing Research,
vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 102-116, 2001.
[27] H. Tessler, R. Gorodischer, J. Press, N. Bilenko. "Unrealistic concerns
about fever in children; the influence of cultural-ethnic and sociodemographic
factors". IMAJ, vol. 10, pp. 346-350, 2008.
[28] E. Leshem, D. Roer-Strier. Cultural diversity: a challenge to human
services. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 2003. (Hebrew).
[29] T. Horowitz. "The Soviet man in an open society", in The soviet man in
an open society. T. Horowitz. Ed. Lanham, MD: University Press of
America, 1989.
[1] The Central Bureau of Statistics. Statistical abstract of Israel, 59, 2008.
[2] E. Leshem. "Israel as a multi-cultural state at the turn of the century", in
Cultural diversity: a challenge to human services, E. Leshem & D. Roer-
Strier Eds. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 2003. (Hebrew).
[3] V. Slonim-Nevo, Y. Shraga, Y. "Family Intervention among Soviet
Immigrants", in Being different in Israel: ethnicity, gender and therapy,
C. Rabin Ed. Ramot: Tel Aviv, 1999, pp. 121-151.
[4] L. Melendez. "Parental beliefs and practices around early selfregulation:
the impact of culture and immigration". Infants & Young
Children, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 136-146, 2005.
[5] K. von Klitzing. "Cultural influences on early family relationships".
Infant Mental Health Journal, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 618-620, 2006.
[6] D. Roer-Strier. "Coping of immigrant parents: Implications for
prevention and intervention", Society and Welfare, vol.16, no. 4, pp.
467-481, 1996. (Hebrew).
[7] D. Roer-Strier, M.K. Rosenthal. "Socialization in changing cultural
contexts: a search for images of an adaptive adult". Social Work, vol. 46,
no. 3, pp. 215-228, 2001.
[8] D. Roer-Strier, M.K. Rosenthal. "Cultural transition: Effects on
parenting and socialization", in Immigrants from the former Soviet
Union in the 1990s: cultural transition and identity. M. Lisak, E. Leshem
Eds. Jerusalem: SilbertCenter, Hebrew University, 2000.
[9] J. Mirsky. "Psychological aspects of immigration and absorption of
immigrants from the soviet union", in Profile of an immigration wave.
M. Sikron, E. Leshem Eds. Jerusalem: the Magnes press, 1998, pp. 334-
367. (Hebrew).
[10] R. Berger. "Immigrants from former soviet union: characteristics,
principles and interventions" in Being different in Israel: ethnicity,
gender and therapy. C. Rabin Ed. Ramot: Tel Aviv, 1999, pp.97-121.
(Hebrew).
[11] A, Jukova. A particular method for infant development. Ulma Press
Moscow, 2002. (Russian).
[12] S. Martinov. Be well, child. A-factoria Press: Aktirenburg, 2006.
(Russian).
[13] Israeli Ministry of Health. Instructions for the care and treatment babies
and premature born babies. 1977-2006. Available:
http://www.babydoc.co.il/article-397.htm.
[14] P. Ekman. "Basic emotions", in Handbook of cognition and emotion. T.
Dalgleish, M. Power Eds. Sussex: UK: John Wiley & Sons, 1999.
[15] J.W. Berry. "Conceptual approaches to acculturation in acculturation:
advances in theory, measurement and applied research". K.M. Chun,
P.B. Organista, G. Marín, Eds. Washington, D.C.: American
Psychological Assoc, 2003, pp. 17-37.
[16] V. Kishinevsky. Russian immigrants in the United States: adapting to
American culture. New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing, 2004.
[17] H. Keller. "Human parent-child relationships from an evolutionary
perspective", American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 43, no.6, pp. 957-969,
2000.
[18] N.D. Stern." Mothers' emotional needs". Pediatrics, vol. 102, no. 5, pp.
1250-1252, 1998.
[19] B. Rosen, I. Elroy, N. Nirel. Findings from a national survey of mothers
regarding preventive services to their infants. Jeruslem: The Myers-JDCBrookdale
Institute, 2007. (Hebrew).
[20] D.N. Stern, N. Bruschweiler-Stern, A. Freeland. Birth of a mother: how
the motherhood experience changes you forever. New York: Perseus
Books, 1998.
[21] J. Mirsky, L. Praver. To immigrate as an adolescent to mature as an
immigrant. Jerusalem: Van Leer Institute and the Association for the
Development and Advancement of Manpower in Social Services in
Israel, 1992. (Hebrew).
[22] J. Mirsky. "Not there and not here yet: identity process with Israel
among students immigrants from the soviet union", in From Russia to
Israel: identity and culture in transition. M. Lisak, E. Leshem Eds. Tel-
Aviv: ha-Kibbutz ha-meuhad, 2001, pp. 175-195. (Hebrew).
[23] G. Horenczyk. "The benefits of multiple identities: implications from
studies on cultural indentuty and adaptation", in Cultural diversity: a
challenge to human services. E. Leshem D. Roer-Strier Eds. Jerusalem:
Magnes Press, 2003. (Hebrew).
[24] C. Slutzki. "Migration and family conflict". Family Process, vol. 18, pp.
379-390, 1979.
[25] C.Y. Tardif, E. Geva. "The link between acculturation disparity and
conflict among Chinese-Canadian immigrant mother-adolescent dyads".
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 37, 191-211, 2006.
[26] K. Gaffney, M. Kodadek, M. Meuse, G. Jones. "Assessing infant health
promotion: A cross-cultural comparison". Clinical Nursing Research,
vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 102-116, 2001.
[27] H. Tessler, R. Gorodischer, J. Press, N. Bilenko. "Unrealistic concerns
about fever in children; the influence of cultural-ethnic and sociodemographic
factors". IMAJ, vol. 10, pp. 346-350, 2008.
[28] E. Leshem, D. Roer-Strier. Cultural diversity: a challenge to human
services. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 2003. (Hebrew).
[29] T. Horowitz. "The Soviet man in an open society", in The soviet man in
an open society. T. Horowitz. Ed. Lanham, MD: University Press of
America, 1989.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:65003", author = "Orly Sarid and Yana Shraga", title = "Perceptions and Attitudes towards Infant-s Physical Health and Caring: Immigrants and Native Born Mothers", abstract = "Purpose: To compare attitudes and perceptions of
Israeli native born mothers versus former Soviet Union (FSU)
immigrant mothers regarding the physical health of their infant.
Methodology: cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 50
participants was recruited by face to face and snowball technique. A
questionnaire was constructed according to the instructions of the
Ministry of Health for the care and treatment of infants. The main
areas explored were: sources of knowledge that the young mother
acquired regarding the care of her infant, ways of caring for the
infant, hygiene and sanitary habits, and the pattern of referral to
health professionals. The last topic relates to emotions mothers might
experience towards their infant.
Results: Mothers from both cultural groups present some similar
caring behaviors, which may express a universal aspect of mothers'
behavior towards their infants. However, immigrant mothers differ
significantly from native born by relying less on their mothers' and
grandmothers' experience, they wean their infants from diapers
earlier, they are stricter about hygiene and sanitary habits and they
tend to consult a physician when their infant has low fever. Native
born and immigrant mothers differ in their expressions of pride and
wonder. Immigrant mothers report of a lesser degree of these
emotions towards their infants than native born mothers.
Conclusion: The theoretical model of socialization and
acculturation of immigrant mothers is employed as an explanatory
model for the current findings Young immigrant mothers undergo a
complex acculturation process and adapt behavioral patterns in
various areas to comply with Israeli norms and values, demonstrating
assimilation. In other areas they adhere to the norms of their original
culture.", keywords = "Attitudes, immigrant mothers, infant, physical
health", volume = "3", number = "7", pages = "1693-6", }
