The Effects of the Parenting Education Performed through Whatsapp on the Level of Maternal-Paternal and Infant Attachment in Turkey

This study aimed to identify the effects of parenting education with online WhatsApp messages on the level of maternal-paternal and infant attachment. The study adopted a randomized-controlled experimental design. The sample of the study was 32 couples. The experimental group was provided with online parenting education in the WhatsApp groups. Data were collected through the Socio-Demographic Form, the Maternal Attachment Inventory, and the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, Wilcoxon test, Paired t-test, Independent sample t-test, Mann Whitney U test, and Wald type statistics test. Intra-group comparisons showed that there was a statistical significance between the Maternal Attachment Inventory total scores (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between group time interactions (p < 0.001), and these differences had a high effect size. When the intra-group comparisons were performed in terms of the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Questionnaire, there were significant differences between the total score differences (p = 0.001). An analysis of the group time interactions indicated no statistically significant differences (p = 0.653). The results of this study showed that the parenting education intervention increased maternal attachment levels in a significant way. •The aim was to evaluate the effects of parenting education with WhatsApp on parental attachment.•The parenting education provided with online WhatsApp messages affected maternal attachment.•The parenting education provided with online WhatsApp messages increased maternal attachment.