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540 UNIT V Middle Range Nursing Theories

in the late 1960s. Mercer’s professor and mentor, Reva contributed. In addition, Mercer’s work was influ-
Rubin at the University of Pittsburgh, was a major enced by von Bertalanffy’s (1968) general system
stimulus for both research and theory development. theory. Her model of maternal role attainment de-
Rubin (1977, 1984) was well known for her work in picted in Figure 27–1 uses Bronfenbrenner’s (1979)
defining and describing maternal role attainment as a concepts of nested circles as a means of portraying
process of binding-in, or being attached to, the child interactional environmental influences on the mater-
and achieving a maternal role identity or seeing one- nal role. The complexity of her research interest
self in the role and having a sense of comfort about it. led Mercer to rely on several theoretical sources to
Mercer’s framework and study variables reflect many identify and study variables that affect maternal role
of Rubin’s concepts. attainment. Although much of her work involved
In addition to Rubin’s work, Mercer based her testing and extending Rubin’s theories, she has consis-
research on both role and developmental theories. tently looked to the research of others in the develop-
She relied heavily on an interactionist approach to ment and expansion of her theory.
role theory, using Mead’s (1934) theory on role enact-
ment and Turner’s (1978) theory on the core self.
In addition, Thornton and Nardi’s (1975) role acquisi- Use of Empirical Evidence
tion process helped shape Mercer’s theory, as did Mercer selected both maternal and infant variables
the work of Burr, Leigh, Day, and Constantine (1979). for her studies on the basis of her review of the litera-
Werner’s (1957) developmental process theories also ture and findings of researchers in several disciplines.

Macrosystem
Mesosystem
Microsystem
Mother-father relationship
Mother
Empathy—sensitivity to cues
Self-esteem/self-concept Child
Parenting received as child Temperament
Maturity/flexibility Ability to give cues
Attitudes Appearance
Pregnancy/birth experience Characteristics
Health/depression/anxiety Responsiveness
Role conflict/strain Health Stress

Maternal Role/Identity Child's Outcome
Competence/confidence in role Cognitive/mental
Gratification/satisfaction development
Attachment to child Behavior/attachment
Health
Social competence School
Family functioning
Day care
Social support
Parent's work settings
Transmitted cultural consistencies

FIGURE 27-1 Model of Maternal Role Attainment. (Modified from Mercer, R. T. [1991]. Maternal role:
Models and consequences. Paper presented at the International Research Conference sponsored by
the Council of Nurse Researchers and the American Nurses Association, Los Angeles, CA. Copyright
Ramona T. Mercer, 1991. NOTE: This figure has been modified based on personal communication with
R. T. Mercer [January 4, 2003]. The word exosystem was replaced with mesosystem to be more consistent
with Bronfenbrenner’s [1979] model on which it is based.)