Determination of the relationship between stress levels and mother-infant contact barriers and mother-infant attachment of mothers with their infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

Determination of the Relationship between Stress Levels and Mother-Infant Contact Barriers and Mother-Infant Attachment of Mothers with Their Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Aim: The involvement of the mother in the care of the baby in the intensive care unit is important for the child's cognitive development and psychological adjustment. Therefore, the aim of the study is to determine the relationship between mother-infant attachment and mother-infant contact barriers and stress levels of mothers whose infants are hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: The study was conducted in a descriptive and relation-seeking style. In the study, 111 mothers whose babies were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit between the dates of data collection and who met the criteria for inclusion in the study were reached, without choosing a sample. In order to collect the data, information form to introduce mother and baby, mother-father stress scale, mother-infant contact barriers scale and mother-infant attachment scale were used. The forms were filled in by the mothers during face-to-face interviews. Results: The mean age of the mothers participating in the study was 29.48±5.01 years. In the study, it was determined that mothers mostly experienced stress due to the appearance and behavior of their babies, mothers got high points from the mother-infant contact barriers scale (50.84±11.87) and got a low score (1.36±2.53) from the mother-infant attachment scale. In the study, a moderate positive correlation was found between mothers' perceived contact barriers and their attachment levels (p<0.01). In addition, it was determined that the stress level increased as the perceived contact barriers of the mothers increased. Conclusion: In order to increase the mother's contact with their babies, it is recommended to care for kangaroos or to increase breastfeeding in babies whose general health status is suitable. The mother's contact with her baby will decrease the stress level and increase mother-infant bonding. Keywords: Mother, Mother-Infant Attachment, Infant, Stress, Contact Barriers, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit