The effect of postpartum depression on mother-infantattachment and maternal role success

Objective: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the effect of postpartum depression on mother-infant attachment and maternal role success. Material and Methods: The research was conducted between November 2022 and December 2023 with 300 mothers who came to Efeler District Family Health Centers affiliated with Aydın Provincial Health Directorate to receive health services and whose babies were between 1 and 12 months old. "Mother and Baby Information Form", "Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale", "Maternal Attachment Scale" and "Semantic Difference Scale-Me as a Mother" were used to collect research data. Descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann Whitney U test, Spearman Correlation, Chi-square analysis and Logistic Regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. Results: The study determined that 26,0% of women had a risk of postpartum depression. It was determined that there was a statistically significant and positive relationship between the total score women received from the Maternal Attachment Scale and the total score they received from the Semantic Difference Scale-Me as Mother scale. There was no statistically significant difference between postpartum depression risk status and the Maternal Attachment Scale total score. The Semantic Difference Scale-Me as a Mother total score average of women at risk of postpartum depression was found to be significantly lower. In this study, it was determined that women between the ages of 26 and 34 had a higher risk of depression, and women whose babies had the desired gender had a lower risk of postpartum depression. According to the results of the Logistic Regression analysis, it was determined that as the Self as a Mother Scale score increased, the risk of postpartum depression decreased by 1.25 times. Conclusion: It has been determined that the risk of depression is common in women, the risk of postpartum depression negatively affects the success of the maternal role, and women with a good level of mother-infant attachment have a good level of success in the maternal role. Midwives can contribute to the improvement of mother and baby health by evaluating postpartum depression with valid and reliable measurement tools in the provision of postpartum follow-up and care services.