The Effect of Journaling on Prenatal Attachment in Pregnant Women

Summary Scientific Merit: Pregnancy is one of the periods in which a woman experiences the most intense physical and psychological changes. During this process, the mother's emotional bond with her baby is a key factor determining the postpartum mother-infant relationship and psychological well-being. Strong prenatal attachment is associated with a healthy mother-infant relationship, positive parenting attitudes, and a reduction in postpartum depression. Journaling is a simple yet effective method that helps individuals recognize their emotions, cope with stress, and express themselves. However, evidence-based research evaluating the effect of journaling during pregnancy on prenatal attachment is quite limited in our country. This project aims to make an original contribution to the literature by examining the effect of journaling among second- and third-trimester pregnant women on increasing prenatal attachment. This project aims to fill this gap by examining the effect of journaling on prenatal attachment levels in women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. The findings obtained from the study will provide scientific evidence for low-cost psychosocial interventions that can be applied during pregnancy. In this way, a "holistic approach" dimension will be added to midwifery care, contributing to strengthening the mother-infant bond.

Method: The research is experimental in nature and will be conducted using a randomized controlled design. The study will be carried out in collaboration with the İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Health Sciences, and the sample will consist of volunteer pregnant women between the 13th and 36th weeks of gestation who present to the antenatal outpatient clinic. The experimental group will be given a "Diary" created by the researchers for 4 weeks and asked to keep a journal. Participants will be asked to write at least 4 times over the course of 4 weeks (about emotions, thoughts regarding the baby, worries, hopes, and expressions of gratitude). No intervention other than routine follow-up will be applied to the control group. Data will be collected using the Prenatal Attachment Inventory at the beginning and end of the intervention. The data obtained will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods in SPSS.

Project Management: The project coordinator will coordinate the research plan, and the advisor faculty member will provide guidance in methodological and ethical matters. The student researchers will be responsible for participant recruitment, data collection, diary follow-up, and data entry. The process will be monitored through regular meetings at every stage, and data will be coded and stored in accordance with confidentiality principles. The study will not begin before ethics committee approval is obtained.

Broader Impact: This study will bring an innovative dimension to psychosocial support approaches during pregnancy, offering a holistic perspective to midwifery care. The findings will constitute a proposal for a low-cost and effective psychological support method that can be applied during the prenatal period. The results will be shared at national student congresses and in scientific journals; they will raise awareness among midwifery students, women's health nurses, psychologists, and researchers interested in the perinatal period, and will bring an innovative dimension to psychosocial support practices during the prenatal period. It will also be made usable in awareness training for expectant mothers.

Hypothesis of the Project In this context, the aim of this project is to examine the effect of journaling during pregnancy on prenatal attachment.

Accordingly, in this experimental study planned as a randomized controlled trial, the hypotheses are as follows; Hypotheses of the Project H0: Journaling during pregnancy has no significant effect on prenatal attachment.

H1: Journaling during pregnancy has a positive effect on prenatal attachment.