The influence of adolescent postpartum women's psychosocial condition on mother-infant bonding

Objective: To identify the correlation between the psychosocial condition of adolescent women in the postpartum period and mother-infant bonding. Method: This study used a cross-sectional design. Using a consecutive sampling method, 103 adolescent women with a 1- to 12-week-old baby were recruited. Participants completed the postpartum bonding questionnaire to identify mother-infant bonding. This questionnaire included four dimensions: the relationship between mother and baby, baby acceptance, readiness to perform maintenance, and delivery of comfort. Results: We identified that 45.6% of the teen mothers in this study were at risk of psychosocial problems and that 67% of them had insufficient mother-infant bonding. There was a statistically significant correlation between the psychosocial condition of adolescent postpartum women and mother-infant bonding (p = 0.000; OR = 5.143; 95%CI, 0.195 to 135.662). Conclusions: Adolescent mothers require special attention during the perinatal period. They also require infant care education and preparation to become a successful mother. Maternity nurses play a very important role in providing education for adolescent mothers and the elderly. Maternity nursing services must be expanded to include psychosocial assessments for teen mothers throughout the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods.