The Effects of the Parenting Education Performed through Whatsapp on the Level of Maternal-Paternal and Infant Attachment in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of parenting education with online WhatsApp messages on the level of maternal-paternal and infant attachment.

Design and methods: The study adopted a randomized-controlled experimental design. The sample of the study was 32 couples. The experimental group was provided with online parenting education in the WhatsApp groups. Data were collected through the Socio-Demographic Form, the Maternal Attachment Inventory, and the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, Wilcoxon test, Paired t-test, Independent sample t-test, Mann Whitney U test, and Wald type statistics test.

Results: Intra-group comparisons showed that there was a statistical significance between the Maternal Attachment Inventory total scores (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between group time interactions (p < 0.001), and these differences had a high effect size. When the intra-group comparisons were performed in terms of the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Questionnaire, there were significant differences between the total score differences (p = 0.001). An analysis of the group time interactions indicated no statistically significant differences (p = 0.653).

Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the parenting education intervention increased maternal attachment levels in a significant way.

Keywords: Communication and information technologies; Maternal-infant attachment; Parenting education; Paternal-infant attachment; WhatsApp messages.