Research Article

Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit

Volume: 9 Number: 2 August 28, 2025
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Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the relationship between anxiety level and maternal attachment in women whose babies were in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study, conducted with 140 women whose babies were admitted to the hospital's NICU between April 2022 and September 2022, was planned in a descriptive and correlational design. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using the "Mother-Infant Description Questionnaire", the "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)", the "Mother-Infant Attachment Scale (MIAS)" and the "Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)". The mean age of the mothers was 28.48±5.66 years. The average total scores of the mothers were as follows: MICS= 14.85±2.13 and BAS= 7.21±6.33. It was found that the mothers who could not participate in the care of the baby had higher MICS scores (p= 0.045). It was found that mothers who attended regular check-ups during pregnancy had lower BAI scores (p= 0.005). Participants who received support from their mothers/fathers (p=0.021), husband (p=0.018) and friends (p=0.040) had lower BAI scores (p<0.05). Mothers who received support from their husbands' families had less anxiety (p=0.044). No statistical correlation was found between the MIAS and the BAI (r: -0.90; p: 0.290). As a result of the study, it was found that although mothers whose babies were hospitalized in the NICU had anxiety, their attachment to their babies was not low. It was found that there was no significant relationship between mothers' anxiety levels and attachment. However, variables such as mothers' involvement in caring for their babies, the presence of family and social support, breastfeeding and the person from whom the information was obtained (nurse/midwife), and fear of losing the baby were identified as variables influencing anxiety and attachment.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This article has not received any financial/in-kind support.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Date: 14 March 2022; Approval No: E-74555795-050.01.04-334568).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Obstetrics and Gynocology Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 28, 2025

Submission Date

January 18, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 3, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2

APA
Özdemir, E., & Mecdi Kaydırak, M. (2025). Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 9(2), 21-33. https://doi.org/10.71230/arsagbil.1622671
AMA
1.Özdemir E, Mecdi Kaydırak M. Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025;9(2):21-33. doi:10.71230/arsagbil.1622671
Chicago
Özdemir, Esra, and Meltem Mecdi Kaydırak. 2025. “Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9 (2): 21-33. https://doi.org/10.71230/arsagbil.1622671.
EndNote
Özdemir E, Mecdi Kaydırak M (August 1, 2025) Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9 2 21–33.
IEEE
[1]E. Özdemir and M. Mecdi Kaydırak, “Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit”, J. H. Sci. Arel U., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 21–33, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.71230/arsagbil.1622671.
ISNAD
Özdemir, Esra - Mecdi Kaydırak, Meltem. “Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 9/2 (August 1, 2025): 21-33. https://doi.org/10.71230/arsagbil.1622671.
JAMA
1.Özdemir E, Mecdi Kaydırak M. Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025;9:21–33.
MLA
Özdemir, Esra, and Meltem Mecdi Kaydırak. “Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit”. Arel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 2, Aug. 2025, pp. 21-33, doi:10.71230/arsagbil.1622671.
Vancouver
1.Esra Özdemir, Meltem Mecdi Kaydırak. Investigating The Relationship Between Anxiety Level and Maternal Attachment in Mothers With a Baby in The Neonatal Newborn Care Unit. J. H. Sci. Arel U. 2025 Aug. 1;9(2):21-33. doi:10.71230/arsagbil.1622671

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