The mediating role of obsessive-compulsive behaviors in the relationship between spousal support and postpartum comfort: a cross-sectional analysis.

AIM: The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of obsessive and compulsive behaviors related to newborn care in the relationship between perceived spousal support and comfort level of women in the early postpartum period.

METHOD: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 337 women who were in their first week postpartum (0-7 days). Data were collected online via web-based platforms between November 8, 2025, and February 13, 2026. The data collection tools used in the study were the "Personal Information Form", "The Scale of Perceived Spousal Support among Women in the Early Postpartum Period (SPSSWEPP)", "Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PCQ)", and "Obsessive and Compulsive Behaviors Scale of Mothers in the Postpartum Period Regarding Baby Care (OCBCSMPRBC)". In the analysis of the research data, descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were applied. To examine the statistical indirect associations, Model 4 of the PROCESS macro was used. The significance of the indirect estimate was evaluated with a 95% confidence interval over 5000 bootstrap samples. The significance level was determined as p < 0.05. It should be noted that given the cross-sectional design of this study, the mediation model is interpreted as representing statistical associations rather than establishing causal pathways.

RESULTS

The total scale scores of the women participating in the study were 62.33 ± 12.35 for SPSSWEPP, 119.29 ± 17.41 for PCQ, and 25.45 ± 8.29 for OCBCSMPRBC. A moderate positive and significant relationship was found between spousal support and comfort (r = 0.36, p < 0.001). A low-level positive and significant relationship was observed between comfort and obsessive-compulsive behaviors related to newborn care (r = 0.25, p < 0.001). However, no significant relationship was found between spousal support and obsessive-compulsive behaviors (r = 0.03, p > 0.05). Regarding the mediation analysis, spousal support demonstrated a significant positive association with postpartum comfort level (B = 0.509, p < 0.001). Furthermore, obsessive-compulsive behaviors related to baby care did not show a statistically significant mediating role in this association (B = 0.0098, 95% CI [-0.0272, 0.0468], p = 0.604).

CONCLUSION

In the study, it was determined that as the perceived spousal support of women in the early postpartum period increased, their comfort levels also increased. However, obsessive-compulsive behaviors related to newborn care did not have a mediating role in the relationship between spousal support and comfort level.