Effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms and strengthening mother-infant bonding: A perspective based on Watson's caring model
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NURSING, cilt.91, sa.October-November, ss.117-126, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 91 Sayı: October-November
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.pedn.2026.08.006
- Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NURSING
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.117-126
- Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective:
Postpartum depression (PPD) and impaired bonding are critical biopsychosocial challenges affecting maternal‑neonatal health and infant development. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Watson's Theory of Human Caring (WTHC)-based psychoeducational intervention on PPD symptoms and mother-infant bonding.
Methods:
This randomized controlled trial was conducted between July 2025 and January 2026 with 99 women (intervention: 49, control: 50). Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), and Mother-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS). Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square, and logistic/linear regression.
Results:
Post-intervention, the risk of PPD in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (p = .015). Risk analysis demonstrated that mothers in the control group were 3.14 times more likely to develop PPD compared to the intervention group (OR = 3.141; 95% CI: 1.216–8.111). EPDS and bonding dif-ficulty MIBS scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p < .01). Regression analysis revealed that bonding levels accounted for 27.9% of the variance in PPD in the intervention group (R2 = 0.279, p < .001). Furthermore, as bonding difficulty decreased, depressive symptoms significantly decreased (Beta = 0.542; p < .001) .
Conclusions:
WTHC-based psychoeducation effectively reduces PPD risk and strengthens the maternal-infant bond. Addressing the biopsychosocial needs of the dyad creates a healthier primary environment, which is vital for infant mental health.
Practice implications:
Nurses and midwives providing maternal-child health care should integrate WTHC-based psychoeducational assessments into routine infant follow-ups. Strengthening the biopsychosocial bond is a vital nursing and midwifery role in promoting long-term infant development and holistic family well-being.