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Background <p>High-risk pregnancies can disrupt the transition to motherhood by limiting maternal–infant interaction, increasing psychological distress, and undermining confidence in assuming the maternal role; however, few studies have modeled how relational, social, and health-related factors jointly influence this process. Guided by Mercer’s theory of maternal role attainment, this cross-sectional study developed and tested an explanatory structural equation model that described the process of becoming a mother among first-time mothers with a history of high-risk pregnancies.</p> Methods <p>In this cross-sectional study, we tested a hypothesized structural equation model for the process of becoming a mother among first-time mothers with high-risk pregnancies. A total of 320 women within 6 months postpartum who had a physician-confirmed high-risk singleton pregnancy and lived with a spouse completed an online survey. Assessed variables included the mother–infant relationship, spousal support, social support, maternal health, maternal role confidence, and the process of becoming a mother.</p> Results <p>A total of 320 mothers were included in the final analysis. First-time mothers who had experienced high-risk pregnancies demonstrated a stronger sense of becoming a mother when they reported a more positive mother–infant relationship (β = 0.64, <i>p</i> = .001), a more supportive spousal relationship (β = 0.10, <i>p</i> = .003), higher levels of social support (β = 0.36, <i>p</i> = .008), better maternal health (lower scores indicating poorer health; β = −0.52, <i>p</i> = .002), and higher maternal role confidence (β = 0.42, <i>p</i> = .003).</p> Conclusions <p>Women who had experienced high-risk pregnancies were both directly and indirectly influenced by their mother–infant and spousal relationships, social support, maternal health, and maternal role confidence. These findings suggest that perinatal care for primiparas with a history of high-risk pregnancy should include brief, structured interventions that strengthen mother–infant bonding and spousal support, proactively address physical and emotional symptoms, and provide targeted opportunities to build confidence in assuming the maternal role.</p>

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Explanatory model for “becoming a mother” among first-time mothers who experienced high-risk pregnancies

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月29日

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  • Hyunjin Cho,
  • Sukhee Ahn

摘要

Background

High-risk pregnancies can disrupt the transition to motherhood by limiting maternal–infant interaction, increasing psychological distress, and undermining confidence in assuming the maternal role; however, few studies have modeled how relational, social, and health-related factors jointly influence this process. Guided by Mercer’s theory of maternal role attainment, this cross-sectional study developed and tested an explanatory structural equation model that described the process of becoming a mother among first-time mothers with a history of high-risk pregnancies.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we tested a hypothesized structural equation model for the process of becoming a mother among first-time mothers with high-risk pregnancies. A total of 320 women within 6 months postpartum who had a physician-confirmed high-risk singleton pregnancy and lived with a spouse completed an online survey. Assessed variables included the mother–infant relationship, spousal support, social support, maternal health, maternal role confidence, and the process of becoming a mother.

Results

A total of 320 mothers were included in the final analysis. First-time mothers who had experienced high-risk pregnancies demonstrated a stronger sense of becoming a mother when they reported a more positive mother–infant relationship (β = 0.64, p = .001), a more supportive spousal relationship (β = 0.10, p = .003), higher levels of social support (β = 0.36, p = .008), better maternal health (lower scores indicating poorer health; β = −0.52, p = .002), and higher maternal role confidence (β = 0.42, p = .003).

Conclusions

Women who had experienced high-risk pregnancies were both directly and indirectly influenced by their mother–infant and spousal relationships, social support, maternal health, and maternal role confidence. These findings suggest that perinatal care for primiparas with a history of high-risk pregnancy should include brief, structured interventions that strengthen mother–infant bonding and spousal support, proactively address physical and emotional symptoms, and provide targeted opportunities to build confidence in assuming the maternal role.