EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRIMIPAROUS MOTHERS' ANXIETY LEVELS REGARDING NEWBORN CARE AND MOTHER-INFANT BONDING: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20700613Keywords:
Attachment, Anxiety, Primiparous Mother, NewbornAbstract
Objective: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the anxiety level of primiparous mothers regarding newborn care and mother-infant bonding.
Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 95 mothers who had infants in the pediatric ward of a hospital located in the Aegean Region of Turkey. Data were collected using the “Mother Information Form,” the “State Anxiety Scale (SAS),” and the “Postpartum Attachment Scale (PAAS).” Descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.
Results: The study found that 81.1% of participating mothers were aged 18-35, 56.8% had given birth by cesarean section, 61.1% had no experience in newborn care, 50.5% experienced difficulties with breastfeeding, and 84.2% requested assistance with newborn care. The mean PAAS score for mothers was 42.85±4.61, while the mean SAS score was 36.20±8.31. A negative, high-level, and statistically significant relationship was found between SAS and PAAS scores (r = -0.554; p = 0.000). The significant variables predicting anxiety levels in primiparous mothers were postpartum attachment level (β = -0.264), financial status (β = 0.210), and participation in pregnancy classes (β = -0.254) (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: This study has revealed that as the anxiety level of primiparous mothers regarding newborn care increases, the mother-infant bond is negatively affected. The findings indicate that supportive educational programs such as pregnancy classes and improvements in socioeconomic conditions can strengthen the mother-infant bond by reducing mothers' anxiety levels.
References
Altay, G., Sarialioğlu, A. The effects of baby calming training provided to primiparous mothers on maternal role perception, maternal attachment, and breastfeeding self-efficacy: A randomized controlled trial. Breastfeed Med, 9(12), 947-956. doi:10.1089/bfm.2024.0247
Arslan, E., Teze S. (2016). Bağlanma kuramı. In: Sargın N, Avşaroğlu S, Ünal A, editors. Eğitim ve psikolojiden yansımalar, Konya: Çizgi Kitabevi, p. 71–90.
Athinaidou, A.M., Vounatsou, E., Pappa, I., Harizopoulou, V.C., Sarantaki, A. Influence of antenatal education on birth outcomes: A systematic review focusing on primiparous women. Cureus. 16(7), e64508. doi:10.7759/cureus.64508
Ayete-Nyampong, J., Udofia, E.A. (2020). Assessment of knowledge and quality of essential newborn care practices in La Dade Kotopon Municipality, Ghana. PLoS One, 15(8), e0237820. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0237820
Bowlby, J. (1988). Developmental psychiatry comes of age. Am J. Psychiatry, 145(1), 1-10
Brockington, I.F., Fraser. C., Wilson, D. (2006). The postpartum bonding questionnaire: A validation. Womens Ment Health, 9, 233-242. doi:10.1007/s00737-006-0132-1
Çırlak, A., Özbay, K., Özbek, S. (2023). The effect of breastfeeding and infant care training on the knowledge level and selfconfidence of primiparous mothers. Turk Nurs Assoc J, 4(3), 177–87.
Daglar. G., Nur, N. (2018). Level of mother-baby bonding and influencing factors during pregnancy and postpartum period. Psychiatria Danubina, 23, 30(4), 433-40.
Engin, N., Ayyıldız, T. (2021). Anne-bebek bağlanmasının annelik algısı ve bazı değişkenlere göre incelenmesi. AMUSBFD, 5(3), 583-596.
Erkut, Z, Balcı, S. (2024), Determining the practices of neonatal nurses regarding parent-infant bonding. (2024). Gumushane Univ J Health Sci, 13(1), 165-173. h doi:10.37989/gumussagbil.1138191
Gancedo, A.G., Gonzalez, P.F., Chudacik, M., Fernandez, F.A., Suarez-Gil, P., Martinez, V.S. (2019). Factors associated with the anxiety level and knowledge about childcare and lactation in first-time pregnant women. Aten Primaria, 51(5), 285–93. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2017.12.005
Güleç, D., Kavlak, O. (2015). Father-infant attachment and role of nurse: Review. Turk Klin J Nurs, 7(1), 63–68. doi:10.5336/nurses.2013-36062
Karaarslan,. D, Akin, H.Y.S. (2024).How does the anxiety of primiparae affect their readiness for newborn care? ethnic primiparous experiences. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities, 1-9. doi:10.1007/s40615-024-02161-3
Khandan, S., Riazi, H., Ali-Akbari, S.A., Nasiri, M., Sheikhan, Z. (2018). The correlation between adaptation to the maternal role and social support in a sample of iranian primiparous women. Adv Nurs Midwifery, 27(3), 37-42. doi:10.21859/ANM-0270310
Kınık, E., Özcan, H. (2020). Factors affecting maternal attachment and maternal attachment status in primiparas. J Health Prof Res, 2(1), 47-53.
Kırca, A.Ş., Savaşer, S. (2017). Doğum sayısının anne bebek bağlanmasına etkisi. Sağlık Bilimleri ve Meslekleri Dergisi, 4(3):236-243.
Loudon, K., Buchanan, S., Ruthven, I. (2016). The everyday life information seeking behaviors of first-time mothers. J Doc, 72(1). doi:10.1108/JD-06-2014-0080
Motegi, T., Watanabe, Y., Fukui, N., Ogawa, M., Hashijiri, K., Tsuboya, R., Someya, T. (2020). In japanese mothers, depression, anxiety, and primiparity were negatively associated with mother-infant bonding. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat, 16, 3117-3122. doi:10.2147/NDT.S287036
Mutlu, C., Yorbik, O., Tanju, I.A., Celikel, F., Sezer, R.G. (2015). Association of prenatal, natal, and postnatal factors with maternal attachment. Alpha Psychiatr, 16(6), 440-450. doi:10.5455/apd.172669.
Nacar, E., Gökkaya, F. (2019). A review on attachment and maternal attachment. Cyprus Turk J Psychiatry Psychol, 1(1), 50-56. doi:10.35365/ctjpp.19.1.06
O’Dea, G.A., Rossen, L., Smith, I., Teague, S.J., Mansour, K., Booth, A., et al. (2025). Associations between maternal psychological distress and mother-infant bonding: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 26(4), 441–452. doi:10.1007/s00737-023-01332-1
Ogallar, M. A. D., Vázquez, S. M., Martínez, A. H., Molina, R. A. P., & Galiano, J. M. M. (2025). Prevalence and associated factors of anxiety in postpartum women. European Journal of Midwifery, 9, 10-18332.
Öner, N., Le Compte, A. (1983). State-trait anxiety inventory manual. Istanbul. Boğaziçi Univ Press
Öz, T., Seven, Z.D., İrevül, G.(2024). The relationship between postpartum depression and maternal attachment in primiparous women. J Mod Nurs Pract Res, 4(3), 12. doi:10.53964/jmnpr.2024012
Özdemir, K., Başkaya, Y., İdare, A. (2018). Evaluation of the relationship between mothers' maternal attachment levels and perceived social support. J Gynecol Obstet Neonatol Med, 18(1), 638-642. doi:10.38136/jgon.715703
Öztürk, S., Erci, B. (2016). The effect of traınıng provıded the prımıparas in the postpartum perıod for motherhood and neonatal care on maternal self-confıdence. GUSBD, 5(2), 25-31
Özyazıcıoğlu, N., Tüfekci, F.G. (2009). Yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesinde bebekleri bakım alan annelerin kaygı ve umutsuzluk düzeylerini etkileyen faktörlerin incelenmesi. Atatürk Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Yüksekokulu Dergisi, 12(4), 66-73.
Petzoldt, J., Wittchen, H.U., Einsle, F., Martini, J. (2016). Maternal anxiety versus depressive disorders: specific associations with infant crying, feeding and sleep problems. Child: Care Health Dev, 42(2), 231–45. doi:10.1111/cch.12292
Razurel, C., Kaiser, B., Antonietti, J.P., Epiney, M., Sellenet, C. (2017). The relationship between perceived perinatal stress and depressive symptoms, anxiety and parental self-efficacy in primiparous mothers, and the role of social support. Women & Health, 57(2), 154–72. doi:10.1080/03630242.2016.1157125
Shakarami, A., Mirghafourvand, M., Abdolalipour, S., Jafarabadi, M.A., Iravani, M. (2021). Comparison of fear, anxiety and self-efficacy of childbirth among primiparous and multiparous women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 21(1), 642.
Shrestha, S., Adachi, K., Petrini, M.A., Shrestha, S., Khagi, B.R. (2016). Development and evaluation of a newborn care education programme in primiparous mothers in Nepal. Midwifery, 42, 21–8. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2016.09.006.
Shrestha, S., Adachi, K., Petrini, M.A., Shrestha, S. (2014). Factors associated with postnatal anxiety among primiparous mothers in Nepal. Int. Nurs. Rev, 61(3), 427-434.
Tabachnick, B.G., Fidell, L.S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics: International Edition (Sixth Ed.). Pearson.
Ünver, F., Arslan, F.T. (2022). Yenidoğan sarılığına ilişkin annelerin kaygısı: İlişkisel tanımlayıcı çalışma. Güncel Hemşirelik Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2(1), 1-8.
Üst,Z., Pasinlioğlu, T. (2015). Primipar ve multipar gebelerde doğum ve postpartum döneme ilişkin endişelerin belirlenmesi. Sağlık Bilimleri ve Meslekleri Dergisi, 2(3), 306-317.
Yalçın, S.S., Örün, E., Özdemir, P., Mutlu, B., Dursun, A. (2014). Reliability of postpartum bonding scales in turkish mothers. J Child Health Dis, 57, 246-251.
Yanıkkerem, E., Ay, S., Göker, A. (2014). Prenatal concerns and attitudes regarding breastfeeding in primiparous and multiparous women. Van Tıp Dergisi, 21(1), 6–16.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 GEVHER NESIBE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The journal is licensed under a 