Mother-infant bonding and its predictors among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the predictive factors that encourage mother-infant bonding in pregnant women in the city of Jazan (Saudi Arabia). This is a descriptive cross-section study with 255 pregnant women who filled in the Mother-Infant Bonding Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Relationship Assessment Scale. Data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, and regression analysis. The main results showed that pregnant women are generally geared toward a high level of bonding with their infants (3.34±2.080). Regression analysis indicated that a significant portion of the variance in the level of mother-infant bonding among pregnant women was attributed to spousal support, planned pregnancy, and working status. The three variables accounted for 28.6% of the variance in raising mother-infant bonding. This study demonstrated the significance of spousal support and planned pregnancy in the lives of pregnant women. As a result, spousal support during a planned pregnancy may affect feelings and behaviors toward the fetus that are more affectionate, caring, and concerned. Therefore, attention to these factors should be considered in planning to improve mother-infant bonding.