AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
To
examine the relationships between social support, maternal parental
self-efficacy and postnatal depression in first-time mothers at 6 weeks
post delivery.
BACKGROUND:
Social
support conceptualised and measured in different ways has been found to
positively influence the mothering experience as has maternal parental
self-efficacy. No research exists which has measured the relationships
between social support, underpinned by social exchange theory and
maternal parental self-efficacy using a domain-specific instrument,
underpinned by self-efficacy theory and postnatal depression, with
first-time mothers at 6 weeks post delivery.
DESIGN:
A quantitative correlational descriptive design was used.
METHOD:
Data
were collected using a five-part questionnaire package containing a
researcher developed social support questionnaire, the Perceived
Maternal Parental Self-Efficacy Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal
Depression Scale. Four hundred and ten mothers completed questionnaires
at 6 weeks post delivery.
RESULTS:
Significant
relationships were found between functional social support and
postnatal depression; informal social support and postnatal depression;
maternal parental self-efficacy and postnatal depression and informal
social support and maternal parental self-efficacy at 6 weeks post
delivery.
CONCLUSION:
Nurses
and midwives need to be aware of and acknowledge the significant
contribution of social support, particularly from family and friends in
positively influencing first-time mothers' mental health and well-being
in the postpartum period. The development of health care policy and
clinical guidelines needs to define and operationalise social support to
enhance maternal parental self-efficacy.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE:
These
findings suggest that nurses and midwives need to be cognisant of the
importance of social support for first-time mothers in both enhancing
maternal parental self-efficacy and reducing postnatal depressive
symptomatology in the early postpartum period.
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