The Mediation Effect of Health Behavior on the Relationship Between Maternal Depression and Maternal-Fetal Attachment

Background: Numerous studies have shown the adverse effects of maternal depression, which impacts both mother and child as well as can lower the maternal-fetal attachment. However, during pregnancy, a pregnant woman tends to practice healthier behavior to improve her health and the baby. A gap remains in our understanding of the effect of health behavior as the variable which influences the relationship between depression and maternal-fetal attachment. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of healthy behavior on the relationship between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment. Subjects and Method: A cross sectional study was conducted at Community Health Centers in Surakarta, from July to September 2019. A sample of 224 pregnant women was selected for this study. The dependent variable was a healthy lifestyle. The independent variable was depression and maternal-fetal attachment. Depression was measured by Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). The data were analyzed by Hayes’ process mediation analysis. Results: Health-promoting lifestyle totally mediated the relationship between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment (b= -0.25; SE= 0.10; 95% CI= -0.47 to 0.05). Conclusion: Health-promoting lifestyle and behavior mediates the relationship between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment. Keywords: Nursing, midwife, maternal-fetal attachment, prenatal depression, health-promoting lifestyle Correspondence: Rufidah Maulina. National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences. Taipei, Taiwan. Email: rufidahmaulina@gmail.com. Mobile: +6282221525673. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.02.40