Page 566 - alligood 8th edition_Neat

CHAPTER 27 Ramona T. Mercer 547

Society at large

Community

Family and friends

Father
or intimate
partner
a Mother Infant a
b b
c c
d d

FIGURE 27-3 Becoming a mother: A revised model. (From R. T. Mercer, personal communication,
September 3, 2003.)

2003; Mercer & Walker, 2006). Variables within the process of becoming a mother (Mercer & Walker,
family and friends environment include physical and 2006). According to Mercer and Walker (2006), the
social support, family values, cultural guidelines for model presents both environmental variables and
parenting, knowledge and skills, family functioning, maternal-infant characteristics that are important
and affirmation as a mother. The community environ- considerations for both nursing practice and future
ment includes day care, places of worship, schools, work research.
settings, health care facilities, recreational facilities, and
support groups. Within the society at large, influences
come from laws affecting woman and children, evolving Logical Form
reproductive and neonatal science, national health care Mercer used both deductive and inductive logic in
programs, various social programs, and funding for developing the theoretical framework for studying
research promoting becoming a mother. factors that influence maternal role attainment during
The newest model (Figure 27–4) shows interacting the first year of motherhood and in her theory. De-
environments that affect the process of becoming a ductive logic is demonstrated in Mercer’s use of works
mother. The model was developed in 2006 based on a from other researchers and disciplines. Role and
review of the nursing research about the effectiveness or developmental theories and the work of Rubin on
interventions aimed at fostering the process of becom- maternal role attainment provided a base for the
ing a mother. This model depicts the complex issues original framework. Mercer also used inductive logic
that have the potential to either facilitate or inhibit the in the development of her Theory of Maternal Role