Abstract:

Purpose: This study was carried out to determine the effect of the social support and anxiety levels of pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia (PE) on prenatal attachment. Materials and Methods: The study with a descriptive and case-control design was conducted on 313 pregnant women (PE=101, control=212). The data were collected by using the personal information form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (SAI-TAI), and Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Results: The scores of MSPSS in the PE group were found to be lower than in the control group while the SAI scores were found to be higher than in the control group. A positive significant relationship was found between the MSPSS total mean score and the PAI total mean score of the pregnant women in both the preeclampsia group and the control. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that preeclamptic pregnant women experience more anxiety and need more social support. It has also shown that social support is effective in increasing prenatal binding levels in both preeclamptic and healthy pregnant women. It is therefore recommended for health care professionals to evaluate the anxiety, social support, and prenatal binding levels of pregnant women at risk and especially those being followed-up at the clinic during the antenatal follow-ups.

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