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Sung, Choi, and Um: Effects of Early Contact on Maternal Infant Attachment
Original Article
Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2010; 16(2): 177-185.

Published online: 30 June 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2010.16.2.177

Effects of Early Contact on Maternal Infant Attachment

Mi-Hae Sung1, Myung-Ran Choi2, Ok-Bong Um3

1Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Inje University, Korea.

2Nurse, Sanggye-Paik Hospital, Korea.

3Director Nurse, Sanggye-Paik Hospital, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Sung, Mi-Hae, Department of Nursing, Inje University, 633-165 Kaekeum-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan 614-735, Korea. Tel: 82-51-890-6825, Fax: 82-51-896-9840, nursmh@inje.ac.kr

Received 9 April 2010       Accepted 2 June 2010

Copyright © 2010 Korean Academy of Women's Health Nursing

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of early contact between mothers and infants on attachment behaviors.

Methods

The participants were purposely allocated to an experimental group (n=20) and a control group (n=20). For the experimental group, early contact between mothers and newborns took place for 10 minutes. Mother-infant attachment was assessed in the nursery. Data analysis was done using frequency, percentage, χ2 test, mean, standard deviation, and t-test with the SPSS/WIN program.

Results

The experimental group practicing early mother-infant contact, showed a higher degree of identifying behaviors (p<.05), modalities of interaction (p<.05), and caretaking behaviors (p<.05) than the control group.

Conclusion

The early mother-infant contact at 2 hours post-delivery had positive effects on mother-infant attachment. Therefore an early contact can be recommended for all mothers-to-be as a way of improving mother-infant relationships.

Keywords: Attachment, Contact

Figures and Tables

kjwhn-16-177-g001
Figure 1
Research design.
X=verbal, visual, and tactile-kinaesthetic contact (10 minutes); Y=identifying behaviors, modalities of interaction, and caretaking behaviors (observation during 20 minutes)

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Table 1
Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics of Mothers (N=40)
kjwhn-16-177-i001

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

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Table 2
Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics of Infants (N=40)
kjwhn-16-177-i002

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

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Table 3
Groups Comparison of Differences of Identifying Behaviors between Groups (N=40)
kjwhn-16-177-i003

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

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Table 4
Groups Comparison of Differences of Modalities of Interaction between Groups (N=40)
kjwhn-16-177-i004

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

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Table 5
Groups Comparison of Differences of Caretaking Behaviors between Groups (N=40)
kjwhn-16-177-i005

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

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