Abstract

RAPOPORT, Andrea  and  PICCININI, Cesar Augusto. Social support and the experience of maternity. Rev. bras. crescimento desenvolv. hum. [online]. 2006, vol.16, n.1, pp.85-96. ISSN 0104-1282.

Social support is important along all the vital cycle, especially during changes and stress periods. Considering that the experience of motherhood is a transition period overloaded with many new and potentially stressful situations, the present article aims to review theoretical and empirical studies that relate social support and motherhood. The examined literature indicates the importance of support from the family, formal institutions and employees for the pregnant woman and the new mother. The presence of this social support tends to increase maternal responsiveness, benefiting the infant, the mother-infant relationship, and the marital relationship, especially in stressful situations.

Keywords : social support; motherhood; mother-infant relationship; development; fatherhood.

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