The influence of social support on parent/baby bonding

Background: The social support is an important factor in the establishment of bonding between parent and baby, because it involve the quality of social relations in the family. This factor has been pointed out a psychosocial variable involved in adaptation to parenthood. Objective: Investigate the influence between social support and bonding of father and baby. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study, correlational descriptive, quantitative, attended by 349 parents, aged between 19 and 55, with an average age of 31,84 (sd=6,067). To providing a reliable sample characterization the social-demographic, obstetric and pregnancy variables, we applied questionnaires and also the Satisfaction Scale with the Social Support (Ribeiro, 1999) and Bonding Scale (Figueiredo et al., 2005). Results: This study reveals that positive bonding is influenced by age (p=0,010), qualifications (p=0,045), first child (p=0,027), communication with fetus (p=0,005) and be present during labor (p=0,045). Regarding to social support: - Positive bonding and “satisfaction with friends” (p=0,011); - Negative bonding and “intimacies” (p=0,011); - Total bonding and “family satisfaction” (p=0,001). Conclusion: The data undoubtedly show the importance of nurse specialists in maternal health who must involve the father since the beginning of pregnancy. Since social support is key to bonding, it is essential that health professionals support and integrate the father in the adjustement process to parenthood.