The Relationship Between Postpartum Maternity Blues and Breastfeeding

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between postpartum maternity blues and breastfeeding and the effect of maternity blues on breastfeeding. Methods: This cross-sectional was conducted with 302 mothers who applied to Taşköprü State Hospital between May and December 2023 and met the research criteria. Data were collected using a “Sociodemographic Information Form”, the “Postpartum Maternity Blues Assessment Scale”, and the “Breastfeeding Attitude Scale”. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, as well as t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and simple linear regression were used. A significance level of p<.05 and a 95% confidence interval were applied in all statistical tests. Results: The study found that the mean age of the mothers was 29.70±3.74 years, 54.3% were high school graduates, 77.8% were not employed, 78.1% had an income equal to their expenses, and 68.5% lived in a nuclear family. The mean total score on the Postpartum Maternity Blues Assessment Scale was 63.10±11.68, and the mean total score on the Breastfeeding Attitude Scale was 89.01±17.21. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between the scores on the Postpartum Maternity Blues Assessment Scale and the Breastfeeding Attitude Scale (p<.05). The level of postpartum maternity blues explained 88.7% of the variance in the breastfeeding attitudes of the mothers. Conclusion: As maternal blues increases in the postpartum period, breastfeeding attitude decreases.