Effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms and strengthening mother-infant bonding: A perspective based on Watson's caring model.

OBJECTIVE: Postpartum depression (PPD) and impaired bonding are critical biopsychosocial challenges affecting maternal‑neonatal health and infant development. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Watson's Theory of Human Caring (WTHC)-based psychoeducational intervention on PPD symptoms and mother-infant bonding. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted between July 2025 and January 2026 with 99 women (intervention: 49, control: 50). Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), and Mother-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS). Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square, and logistic/linear regression. RESULTS: Post-intervention, the risk of PPD in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (p = .015). Risk analysis demonstrated that mothers in the control group were 3.14 times more likely to develop PPD compared to the intervention group (OR = 3.141; 95% CI: 1.216-8.111). EPDS and bonding difficulty MIBS scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p < .01). Regression analysis revealed that bonding levels accounted for 27.9% of the variance in PPD in the intervention group (R2 = 0.279, p < .001). Furthermore, as bonding difficulty decreased, depressive symptoms significantly decreased (Beta = 0.542; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: WTHC-based psychoeducation effectively reduces PPD risk and strengthens the maternal-infant bond. Addressing the biopsychosocial needs of the dyad creates a healthier primary environment, which is vital for infant mental health. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses and midwives providing maternal-child health care should integrate WTHC-based psychoeducational assessments into routine infant follow-ups. Strengthening the biopsychosocial bond is a vital nursing and midwifery role in promoting long-term infant development and holistic family well-being.