Investigation of the relationship between social support perception and obsessive compulsive behaviors of mothers regarding the care of their babies with structural equation model

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: One of the aims of this study is; is the examination of the relationship between mothers' perception of social support and obsessive-compulsive behaviors related to the care of their babies with the structural equation model. The other aim is to determine the demographic variables that affect the obsessive-compulsive behaviors related to the perceived social support and care of their babies in postpartum mothers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The sample of the study consisted of 234 mothers who applied to the Child Health and Diseases Polyclinic in Sakarya Training and Research Hospital Gynecology and Pediatrics Service Building within six weeks after giving birth, who met the research criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected using the Family Information Form, The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Scale for Obsessive and Compulsive Behaviors of Mothers in the Postpartum Period with regard to Baby Care. The data obtained in the study were analyzed by using Windows 25,0 and AMOS 23,0 programs in SPSS. RESULTS: It was observed that 17,1% of the mothers participating in the study were 23 years old and under, 39,3% were 24-29 years old, 33,8% were 30-35 years old, and 9,8% were 36 years old and over. When the effect of perceived multidimensional social support on obsessive and compulsive behaviors of mothers related to baby care in the postpartum period was examined, it was determined that there was no statistically significant effect (β=-0,125, p>0,05). Mothers with good and moderate economic status had more obsessive and compulsive behaviors related to the care of babies in the postpartum period (p<0,05). It was observed that mothers with high educational status had higher perceived social support scores compared to mothers with primary and secondary school education status. (p<0,05). CONCLUSION: There was no significant relationship between the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support of Mothers and Scale for Obsessive and Compulsive Behaviors of Mothers in the Postpartum Period with regard to Baby Care.