First Advisor
Jessica Tipsord
Date of Award
Spring 6-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Science and University Honors
Department
Science
Language
English
Subjects
Birth Satisfaction, Breastfeeding Duration, Postpartum Depression, Maternal-Infant Attachment, Patient-Centered Maternity Care, Social Determinants of Health
DOI
10.15760/honors.1865
Abstract
Birth satisfaction has been consistently associated with improved maternal outcomes such as reduced postpartum depression (PPD), stronger maternal-infant attachment, and longer breastfeeding duration. However, the extent to which birth satisfaction independently predicts these outcomes remains unclear. This study examined whether birth satisfaction, as measured by the Birth Satisfaction Scale–Revised (BSS-R), predicts postpartum depression, maternal-infant attachment, and breastfeeding duration in a longitudinal cohort.
Data were drawn from the Prenatal Environmental And Child Health (PEACH) study. Birth satisfaction was assessed at 12 months postpartum using the BSS-R. Postpartum depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), maternal-infant attachment using the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS), and breastfeeding duration using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire (IFSQ) derived measures. Multiple regression analyses were conducted, controlling for relevant sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Findings suggest that birth satisfaction may not function as a universal predictor of postpartum outcomes, particularly in high-resource, patient-centered care settings. Instead, structural and social determinants of health may play a more vital role in the larger picture. This study highlights the importance of considering context when evaluating the impact of birth experiences on maternal and infant health outcomes.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44799
Recommended Citation
Parker, Molly, "Birth Satisfaction, as Measured by the Birth Satisfaction Scale–Revised (BSS-R), and Its Role in Predicting Breastfeeding Duration, Maternal-Infant Attachment, and Postpartum Depression" (2026). University Honors Theses. Paper 1828.
https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.1865