with postpartum depression and mothers of infants born with congenital defects (Alligod & Tomey, 2010). Description of Theory Mercer’s most famous work is her development of the Maternal Role Attainment (MRA) theory based on her mentor Reva Rubin’s earlier theory of maternal role attainment (1978). MRA theory is also loosely based on developmental theorists such as Turner, Mead, Thornton and Bronfenbrenner and has been widely accepted in nursing, psychology and sociology (Alligood & Tomey, 2010). The foundation of Mercer’s theory is that there are many different factors or variables that influence the maternal role, how women progress or develop into the role and how the perceive themselves in that role. All of these factors them in turn influence the attachment and bonding that occurs between mother and child, therefore, also impacting the health of woman, child and the family. The theory of Maternal Role Attainment uses many concepts that makes its use practical among the different academic disciplines but more importantly to the nursing profession and nursing practice. There are more than twenty concepts identified and defined within Mercer’s theory. The two majors concept identified and most closely related to the understanding of the theory are and According to Alligood and Tomey, maternal role attainment maternal identity. maternal role attainment is defined as interactional and developmental process occurring “an over a period of time, during which the mother becomes attached to her infant, acquires competence in the care-taking tasks involved in the role, and expresses pleasure and gratification in the role”. Likewise, maternal identity is defined as an internalized view of the self as a “having mother” (Alligood & Tomey, 2010, p. 584). Understanding these two defined concepts is integral to understanding the basis of Mercer’s work.
with postpartum depression and mothers of infants born with congenital defects (Alligod & Tomey, 2010). Description of Theory Mercer’s most famous work is her development of the Maternal Role Attainment (MRA) theory based on her mentor Reva Rubin’s earlier theory of maternal role attainment (1978). MRA theory is also loosely based on developmental theorists such as Turner, Mead, Thornton and Bronfenbrenner and has been widely accepted in nursing, psychology and sociology (Alligood & Tomey, 2010). The foundation of Mercer’s theory is that there are many different factors or variables that influence the maternal role, how women progress or develop into the role and how the perceive themselves in that role. All of these factors them in turn influence the attachment and bonding that occurs between mother and child, therefore, also impacting the health of woman, child and the family. The theory of Maternal Role Attainment uses many concepts that makes its use practical among the different academic disciplines but more importantly to the nursing profession and nursing practice. There are more than twenty concepts identified and defined within Mercer’s theory. The two majors concept identified and most closely related to the understanding of the theory are maternal role attainment and maternal identity. According to Alligood and Tomey, maternal role attainment is defined as “an interactional and developmental process occurring over a period of time, during which the mother becomes attached to her infant, acquires competence in the care-taking tasks involved in the role, and expresses pleasure and gratification in the role”. Likewise, maternal identity is defined as “having an internalized view of the self as a mother” (Alligood & Tomey, 2010, p. 584). Understanding these two defined concepts is integral to understanding the basis of Mercer’s work.