title: Postpartum psychosocial changes among experienced and inexperienced mothers in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare differences in psychosocial changes among experienced and first-time mothers over 6 postpartum weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A trend research study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 439 first-time mothers and 420 experienced mothers during the 6 postpartum weeks was recruited in southern Taiwan. Each participant was interviewed over the phone to complete the Hung Postpartum Stress Scale, the Social Support Scale, and the Chinese Health Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concern about lack of social support was significantly higher in first-time mothers in the third week than in the first week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postpartum stressors are different for inexperienced and experienced mothers, and these stressors vary in their importance over the 6 postpartum weeks, suggesting that the postpartum nursing needs of the two groups in 6 postpartum weeks may be different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge and skills in mothering capability should be emphasized for first-time mothers, and physical exercises are needed for both groups of mothers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. chhung@kmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Chich-Hsiu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Ching-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shun-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stocker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003469:Culture; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011594:Psychometrics; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health