The Effect of Endorphin Massage Applied to Postpartum Women on Anxiety and Fatigue Levels

The postpartum period, especially in the first few weeks, can be a difficult period for mothers to adapt to the new situation of having a baby. During this process, physiological, psychological and social changes occur in the mother's body. While many mothers adapt to these changes easily, some mothers may experience psychological disorders at different levels.Among these, anxiety and depression are the most common diseases. Anxiety can negatively affect mothers, especially during birth and the postpartum period.During the postpartum period, nurses have the opportunity to improve maternal and infant health by recognizing and treating anxiety.Physical symptoms associated with postpartum anxiety include fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. However, during the vaginal birth process, mothers may feel tired in the early postpartum period, as the pregnant woman spends a lot of energy by staying hungry for a long time. When the literature was examined, it was determined that endorphin massage reduces back pain in pregnant women, reduces anxiety level in pregnant women, accelerates the involution process in the postpartum period, and has positive effects on postpartum depression.Similar to endorphin massage, it has been determined that back massage reduces back pain in the postpartum period and provides the mother with both physiological and psychological relief. In addition, no study has been found examining the effect of endorphin massage applied to postpartum women on anxiety levels and fatigue in the postpartum period. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of endorphin massage applied to postpartum women who gave birth vaginally on postpartum anxiety and fatigue levels.