Childhood traumas, depression and maternal attachment in adolescent and non-adolescent mothers

This study was conducted to examine the childhood traumas, depression and maternal attachment in adolescent and non-adolescent mothers. This study was conducted on adolescent and non-adolescent mothers at Adnan Menderes University Application and Research Hospital between 01.12.2014 and 29.02.2016. The number of the mothers targeted to reach was determined effect size 0,5 , α error 0,05, power0,80, allocation ratio1/3 as 43 adolescent and 127 non-adolescent through G-Power method (95% confidence interval). 10% more of the participants were planned. Questionnaire Form, Maternal Attachment Inventory, Childhood Traumas Questionnaire and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used in this study. Firstly, the responses of the mothers were transferred to SPSS so as to analyze the data obtained from the interviewed mothers within the scope of study. Then, descriptive statistics were calculated so as to evaluate the data, and the data were analyzed in accordance with sub-problems. While evaluating the data, descriptive statistic (frequency and percentage values, minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation), Independent Sample t-test, Pearson chi-square test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. When the distribution of the mothers according to their age is examined, it is clear that 27.6% of them (n=45) are adolescent and 72.4% of them (n=118) are non-adolescent mothers. While the mean age of the adolescent mothers is 16.5±1.3, the mean age of the adult mothers is 27.3±4.3. 64.4% (n=29) of the adolescent mothers are primary school graduate, 26.7% (n=12) of them are secondary school graduate, 4.4% (n=2) of them are high school graduate and 4.4% (n=2) of them are university graduate. 26.3% (n=31)of the adult mothers are primary school graduate, 28% (n=33) of them are secondary school graduate, 22% (n=26) of them are high school graduate and 23.7% (n=28) of them are university and postgraduate. 91.1% (n=41) of the adolescent mothers are housewife, none of them work as a civil servant, 2.2% (n=1) of them are worker and 6.7% (n=3) of them work as a self-employment. 67.8% (n=80) of the adult mothers are housewife, 10.2% (n=12) of them are civil servant, 12.7% (n=15) of them are worker and 9.3% (n=11) of them are self-employed. The income of 64.4% (n=29) of the adolescent mothers is less than their expenditure, the income of 33.3% (n=15) of the adolescent mothers equals to their expenditure, and the income of 2.2% (n=1) of the adolescent mothers is more than their expenditure. The income of 30.5% (n=36) of the adult mothers is less than their expenditure, the income of 54.2% (n=64) of the adult mothers equals to their expenditure and the income of 15.3% (n=18) of the adult mothers is more than their expenditure. 35.6% (n=16) of the adolescent mothers are in a nuclear family structure and 64.4% of them are in an extended family structure. 78.8% of the adult mothers are in a nuclear family structure and 21.2% (n=25) of them are in an extended family structure. 28.7% (n=12) of the adolescent mothers reported that they got unwanted pregnant. 62.2% (n=28) of the adolescent mothers stated that they got pregnant deliberately. 11.1% (n= 5) of the adolescent mothers reported that they did not want to get pregnant at first, but they wanted to get pregnant later. 9.3% (n=11) of the adult mothers stated that they got unwanted pregnant. 85.6% (n=101) of the adult mothers stated that they got pregnant deliberately. 5.1% (n=6) of the adult mothers reported that they did not want to get pregnant at first, but they wanted to get pregnant later. 31.1% (n=14) of the adolescent mothers stated that they did not feel ready themselves for motherhood. 68.9% (n=31) of the adolescent mothers reported that they felt ready themselves for motherhood. 5.9% (n=7) of the adult mothers stated that they did not feel ready themselves for motherhood. 94.1% (n=111) of the adult mothers reported that they felt ready themselves for motherhood. It was determined that the mean score ( ort±SS =45.75±16.08) in childhood traumas questionnaire of the adolescent mothers was higher than the mean score ( ort±SS =35.78±10.66) of the adult mothers, and the childhood traumas were effective in motherhood ( t=-3.847, p=0.000). It was determined that the mean score ( ort±SS =73.91±5.93) in maternal attachment inventory of the adolescent mothers was lower than the mean score ( ort±SS =77.95±9.52 ) in maternal attachment inventory of the adult mothers, and maternal attachment of the adolescent mothers to their children was less (t=-3.847, p=0.000). It was determined that there was a postpartum depression risk in 64.4% (n=29) of the adolescent mothers and in 37.3% (n=44) of the adult mothers, and there was a statistically significant difference between adolescent and non-adolescent mothers (χ2=9.72, p=0.000). It was also determined that there was a positive correlation between postpartum depression risk and the increase in childhood traumas. When all the results are evaluated, it can be said that the adolescent motherhood is associated with maternal attachment, and the postpartum depression risk is associated with childhood traumas, and this risk is more common in the adolescent mothers. In accordance with these results, it can be suggested that risk groups should be evaluated and training should be organized.