Social support and the transition to the maternal role

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Abstract
An exploratory study was conducted with 86 first‐time mothers to identify those individuals the mothers perceive as most supportive following the birth of their first baby. The investigation also examined how such individuals were perceived as being supportive and the effectiveness of the support person during this life transition. Finally, the investigation examined the relationship between attendance at a parent support group and ease of transition to the maternal role. Most of the women identified their mates as most supportive (77%), followed by support groups (9%), and friends (8.1%). Mates were supportive in the area of physical assistance, while support groups and friends offered guidance. Those who identified nonimmediate family members as most supportive showed more difficulty in making the transition than those who identified the spouse as most supportive. Mothers who attended a parent support group tended to have more difficulty in making the transition to the maternal role than those who did not.

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