The Relationship Between Postpartum Depression and Maternal Attachment in Primiparous Women

OpenAlex İngilizce

Objective: Postpartum depression (PPD) and maternal attachment are two important concepts of the postpartum period, which significantly affect maternal well-being and mother-child relationship. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between PPD and maternal attachment in primiparous women. Methods: Our descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational design study was conducted between January-June 2023. The study was completed with 352 participants who volunteered to participate in the study, gave birth in the relevant clinic, had no communication problems, and had no diagnosed psychiatric illness. Data were collected face-to-face by the researchers using the Descriptive Information Form, Maternal Attachment Scale (MAS) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Data were analyzed in SPSS-22 program. Results: The mean age of the primiparous mothers included in the study was 23.82±2.60 years and the mean duration of marriage was 2.01±0.77 years. The mean score of the MAS was 81.92±10.99 and the mean score of the EPDS was 11.3±4.39. There was a significant negative correlation between MAS score and EPDS score. Conclusion: In our study, it was found that the MAS score was higher and the EPDS scale score was lower in mothers with a university degree or higher, mothers who received adequate support from their husbands after birth, working mothers, mothers whose husbands had a regular job and mothers who breastfed their babies. The results are expected to guide intervention and early intervention programs related to PPD and maternal attachment.