RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND MOTHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE BIRTH EXPERIENCE IN THE EARLY POSTPARTUM PERIOD.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 106
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This descriptive correlational study was concerned with social support and new mothers' perceptions of the birth experience. Purposes of the study were to ascertain if there is a relationship between social support and perceptions of the birth experience, to determine characteristics the social support network of new mothers, and describe perceptions of the birth experience.

Data collection instruments were the Norbeck Social Support Quesionnaire, Marut and Mercer's Perception of Birth questionnaire, a structured interview, and a demographic and obstetric data form. The sample consisted of 105 new mothers who had vaginally delivered term infants in satisfactory condition. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample, social support network, and perceptions of the birth experience. Multiple regression, correlation coefficients, and multivariate analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Race and parity were controlled statistically in data analysis. Alpha level was set at .05.

There was no statistically significant relationship between social support and perceptions of the birth experience. The observed differences among subjects could not be accounted for by age, socio-economic status, childbirth education class attendance, support person during labor, or amount of time since delivery. Length of labor was correlated with perceptions of the birth experience, and subjects experiencing life-change events had significantly higher total loss support scores.

Subjects perceived they had quite a bit of functional support available to them and had an average network of 6.4 members. Approximately one-third of the subjects had lost significant relationships during the past year. Perceptions of the birth experience were more positive than negative. The birth experience was not as expected for most subjects, and pain was the most negative aspect. Subjects were in control had input into management decisions, were pleased with the outcome, and gave the birth experience high ratings.

Future research should explore birth situations other than vaginal delivery and term infant in satisfactory condition. Further study should ascertain what characteristics of the person and situation are related to social support in new mothers and what characteristics enhance positive perceptions of the birth experience and contribute to negative perceptions.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, Section: B, page: 1117.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1985.

School code: 0005.