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

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.