Hacer KOBYA BULUT, Kiymet YESILCICEK CALIK, Ayse DASTAN YILMAZ
Medicine Science - 2026;15(2):690-696
The study aimed to assess whether mothers' perceptions of social support influence the quality of maternal-infant bonding after childbirth. A descriptive and correlational design was employed. The study was conducted between June and December 2024 with mothers of infants aged 1-4 months who attended the obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics outpatient clinics of Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University (EBYU) Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital. The sample size was calculated as 471 using Epi Info with a 5% margin of error and 97% confidence level; the study was completed with 505 mothers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Descriptive Information Form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI). The participants' mean age was 30.04 +/- 5.67 years, and 60.4% were between 26 and 34 years old. Nearly half had completed high school (49.5%), most lived in nuclear families (88.3%), the majority were housewives (81.8%), and most perceived their income level as moderate (81.6%). A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between total MSPSS and MAI scores (r=0.289, p<0.001). At the subscale level, the strongest correlation was observed between "significant other" support and bonding (r=0.311, p<0.001), followed by family (r=0.242, p<0.001) and friends (r=0.187, p<0.001). However, regression analyses including each subscale and the total MSPSS score independently revealed no significant predictive power for maternal bonding (t=0.777-1.101, all p>0.05). Perceived social support has a positive relationship with maternal-infant bonding in the postpartum phase. However, in univariate models, its explanatory power is limited. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening partner and family support and integrating systematic social support screening into postpartum care practices.
