title: The identification of the relationship between the perceived social support, fatigue levels and maternal attachment during the postpartum period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to determinate the relationship between social support perceived by women, fatigue levels and maternal attachment in postpartum period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample of this descriptive study consists of 181 women who gave birth in the study period. The data was collected by the socio-demographic characteristics forms; "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support" (MSPSS); "Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale" (MAFS) and "Maternal Attachment Scale" (MAS) on the postpartum first days and 30-40th days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MSPSS scores of women who had university or higher education, employed, had their first pregnancy, have 12 months or less between two pregnancies, were found to be significantly higher than others. MAS scores of women at the end of the postpartum first month were significantly increased. MAFS scores of women at the end of the postpartum first month were significantly decreased. The correlation between the fatigue levels and maternal attachment levels at the end of the postpartum first month was found to be negative and significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the postpartum period, the care of the mother should include social support, maternal attachment and fatigue assessment. Mothers should be encouraged to use social support resources. The continuity of social support systems should be provided.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing, Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing Department, Gulhane Military Medical Academy , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yesilcinar
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing, Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing Department, Gulhane Military Medical Academy , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yavan
authors.affiliation: b Obstetric and Gynecologic Department, Gulhane Military Medical Academy , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Kazim Emre
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Karasahin
authors.affiliation: b Obstetric and Gynecologic Department, Gulhane Military Medical Academy , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mufit Cemal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yenen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D010298:Parity; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fatigue; maternal attachment; postpartum; pregnancy; social support