title: Predictors of maternal sensitivity during the early postpartum period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports a study examining the relationship of maternal sensitivity to maternal identity, social support, maternal-fetal attachment and demographic variables.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Maternal sensitivity is a mother's ability to perceive and interpret accurately her infant's signals and communications, and then respond appropriately. It is one of the major influencing factors of mother-infant attachment, and needs to be promoted for effective mother-infant interaction. However, limited information is available on the factors that influence postpartum maternal sensitivity. The study was guided by Roy's adaptation model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. A convenience sample of 196 Korean mothers within 6 weeks of delivery were recruited during July-November 2003 and completed a self-report questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that maternal-fetal attachment, self-identity as a mother, mother's employment status, identification with her baby, support from others, and infant's gestational age at birth were statistically significant predictors of maternal sensitivity postpartum. These variables explained 60% of the variance in maternal sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing social support, enhancing maternal identity, and facilitating maternal-fetal attachment in the antepartum period are recommended to improve postpartum maternal sensitivity. Also, in future research, a path-type model or structural equation model including other variables, such as postnatal depression, needs to be developed and tested for optimal adaptation to becoming a mother.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, 78701, USA. 98shj98@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hyunjeong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mi Ja
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D011181:Postnatal Care; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support