Predictors of maternal sensitivity during the early postpartum period.
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.
Shin
Hyunjeong
H
School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, 78701, USA. 98shj98@gmail.com
Park
Young-Joo
YJ
Kim
Mi Ja
MJ
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