The effect of haptonomy and mindfulness training applied to pregnant women on prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and infant feeding attitudes

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of haptonomy and mindfulness pregnant women's prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and infant feeding attitudes. Materials and methods: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental trial. The sample consisted of a total of 120 pregnant women divided into three groups: mindfulness, haptonomy, and control. Eight sessions were administered to the mindfulness and haptonomy groups over a four-week period between the 20th and 32nd weeks of pregnancy. The study included pretest, posttest, and follow-up test phases in all three groups. Data were collected using the Pregnant Woman Information Form, the Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (PBSS), and the Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IFAS). Results: In within-group comparisons, PBSS and IFAS scores of women in the experimental groups were found to increase from pretest to posttest and follow-up compared with the control group (p<0.001). PBSS scores at pretest, posttest, and follow-up were 76.62±10.73, 86.75±6.09, and 87.47±6.12 in the haptonomy group, and 69.10±11.65, 85.35±3.27, and 87.62±4.30 in the mindfulness group. IFAS scores were 69.10±11.65, 85.35±3.27, and 87.62±4.30 in the haptonomy group, and 57.52±3.80, 77.02±2.04, and 77.10±2.41 in the mindfulness group. Intergroup comparisons showed significantly higher scores in the experimental groups than in the control group (p<0.001), with a high IFAS effect size for mindfulness (η²=0.286). Conclusion: Haptonomy and mindfulness practices during pregnancy have been found to be effective in increasing women's PBSS and IFAS scores. These findings indicate that integrating haptonomy and mindfulness into pregnancy education programmes may support breastfeeding self-efficacy and infant feeding attitudes.