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Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop a satisfaction scale for social support and to investigate the relation of satisfaction with social support to the psychological health of primiparous mothers in terms of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and parental self-efficacy. We carried out a quantitative study during the last month of pregnancy (T1) and 6 weeks after birth (T2) including 235 mothers who were expecting their first child in Geneva (Switzerland) from September 2010 to April 2012. The satisfaction scale for social support revealed five sources of support (from the spouse, young woman’s mother, family, friends, professionals), each associated with different types of support (i.e., emotional, esteem, material, and informative). This scale showed good internal consistency for each factor. Moreover, the results revealed a relationship between satisfaction with social support and the mental health of mothers, in particular in the postnatal period for depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-efficacy. This study highlights the important role of social support and the scale specifically developed during this period is a useful tool to investigate this aspect.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank Ms. G. Parachini and Ms. E. Vitry (midwives in the University Hospitals Geneva [UHG]), Ms. C. Citherlet (nurse coordinator, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics [DGO], UHG), Ms. M. Epiney (physician assistant, DGO, UHG), and Ms. A. Guex (medical secretary, [DGO], UHG) for their contributions and support in this study. The authors confirm that they do not have any financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence the work contained within this manuscript.