Research Article

The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model

Volume: 11 Number: 3 September 15, 2026
EN TR

The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived spousal support and prenatal attachment among pregnant women diagnosed with threatened preterm labor. Materials and Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of pregnant women hospitalized and followed in the perinatology clinic of a state hospital between May and December 2024. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Spousal Support Scale, and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory. Regression tree analysis was applied, and the Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) method was employed as the decision tree technique. The study was completed with a total of 213 participants. Results: The analysis revealed statistically significant differences between educational level, number of children, planned pregnancy status, and spousal support scale scores with prenatal attachment scores (p<0.05). Findings indicated that women with higher perceived spousal support and planned pregnancies exhibited stronger prenatal attachment, highlighting the positive influence of social support on prenatal bonding. Conclusion: In women experiencing pregnancy complications such as threatened preterm labor, the importance of spousal support in promoting prenatal attachment should be emphasized. The spouse represents a critical source of social support, and both the partner’s and other social support sources’ roles should be considered during prenatal follow-up. Nurses can effectively enhance maternal-fetal bonding and improve psychosocial adaptation in high-risk pregnancies by incorporating these support mechanisms into prenatal care interventions.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Date: 10/05/2024; decision No: 2024/05-02), and institutional permission was obtained from the hospital where the study was conducted. Mothers were informed about the study, and their verbal consent was obtained in accordance with the principle of “Informed Consent,” stating that they were free to participate or not participate in the study, the principle of “Respect for Autonomy,” and the principle of “Confidentiality and Protection of Confidentiality,” stating that the information they provided would remain confidential. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki on Human Rights to ensure the protection of participants’ personal rights.

Thanks

We would like to thank all the pregnant women who participated in the study for their support.

References

  1. 1. Hanko C, Bittner A, Junge-Hoffmeister J, Mogwitz S, Nitzsche K, Weidner K. Course of mental health and mother–infant bonding in hospitalized women with threatened preterm birth. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2020;301(1):119-128. doi:10.1007/s00404-019-05406-3
  2. 2. Bedaso A, Adams J, Peng W, Sibbritt D. The relationship between social support and mental health problems during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Health. 2021;18(1):162. doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01209-5
  3. 3. Ahmed AM, Grandi SM, Pullenayegum E, et al. Short-term and long-term mortality risk after preterm birth. JAMA Network Open. 2024;7(11):e2445871-e2445871. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.45871
  4. 4. Bergeron J, Avraam D, Calas L, et al. Stress and anxiety during pregnancy and length of gestation: a federated study using data from five Canadian and European birth cohorts. European journal of epidemiology. 2024;39(7):773-783. doi:10.1007/s10654-024-01126-4
  5. 5. Kural B. The effect of spouse support on pregnancy and birth fear in the pregnancy period. University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, Master's Degree Thesis. Istanbul, Türkiye. 2021.
  6. 6. Li M, Fang Y, Liu M, et al. Dyadic coping and associated factors in women with high-risk pregnancy and their spouses: Do they interact? Midwifery. 2024;134:104006. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2024.104006
  7. 7. Küçükkaya B, Süt HK, Öz S, Sarıkaya NA. The Relatıonshıp Between Dyadıc Adjustment and Prenatal Attachment in Pregnancy. Acibadem University Journal of Health Sciences. 2020;(1):102-110. doi:10.31067/0.2020.246
  8. 8. Choe JH, Yun SJ, Kim HY. High-risk pregnancy nursing: Analyzing the impact of prenatal stress, maternal-fetal attachment, and social support on prenatal depression. The Open Nursing Journal. 2024;18(1):1-10. doi:10.2174/0118744346318130240620115100

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Obstetrics and Gynocology Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 15, 2026

Submission Date

November 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 3

APA
Kurt Can, E., Can, V., Ayşin, N., & Bulduk, M. (2026). The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences, 11(3), 247-254. https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1821079
AMA
1.Kurt Can E, Can V, Ayşin N, Bulduk M. The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model. OTJHS. 2026;11(3):247-254. doi:10.26453/otjhs.1821079
Chicago
Kurt Can, Emine, Veysel Can, Nesrullah Ayşin, and Mehmet Bulduk. 2026. “The Relationship Between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed With Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model”. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences 11 (3): 247-54. https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1821079.
EndNote
Kurt Can E, Can V, Ayşin N, Bulduk M (September 1, 2026) The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences 11 3 247–254.
IEEE
[1]E. Kurt Can, V. Can, N. Ayşin, and M. Bulduk, “The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model”, OTJHS, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 247–254, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.26453/otjhs.1821079.
ISNAD
Kurt Can, Emine - Can, Veysel - Ayşin, Nesrullah - Bulduk, Mehmet. “The Relationship Between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed With Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model”. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences 11/3 (September 1, 2026): 247-254. https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1821079.
JAMA
1.Kurt Can E, Can V, Ayşin N, Bulduk M. The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model. OTJHS. 2026;11:247–254.
MLA
Kurt Can, Emine, et al. “The Relationship Between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed With Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model”. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 11, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 247-54, doi:10.26453/otjhs.1821079.
Vancouver
1.Emine Kurt Can, Veysel Can, Nesrullah Ayşin, Mehmet Bulduk. The Relationship between Spousal Support Levels in Pregnant Women Diagnosed with Threatened Preterm Labor and Prenatal Attachment: Decision Tree Model. OTJHS. 2026 Sep. 1;11(3):247-54. doi:10.26453/otjhs.1821079

Creative Commons License
 

Online Türk Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi [Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences (OTJHS)] is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

This is an open-access journal distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or name of the journal is credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Click here to get help about article submission processes and "Publication Agreement Form".