Maternal–fetal attachment: Influence of mother–daughter and husband–wife relationships

Abstract

Intergenerational attachment relationships between the pregnant woman and her mother, her husband, and her fetus were examined. Self-completed instruments were used to measure the attachment variables for a convenience sample of 115 middle-class mothers who attended urban prenatal classes. Results supported the hypothesis that mother-daughter and husband-wife attachment were correlated positively. Contrary to study predictions, maternal-fetal attachment scores were not related to mother-daughter and husband-wife attachment scores. Maternal-fetal attachment was related to length of gestation. Results provide only partial support for the intergenerational model of attachment relationships.

The Effect of Support Expectations on Prenatal Attachment: An Evidence-Based Approach for Intervention in an Adolescent Population

“…Though not predicted in this study, the findings of gestational age and quickening as impacting attachment confirmed the significance of the two most frequently found variables in the literature review (Berryman & Windridge, 1996;Bloom, 1995;Cranley, 1981Cranley, , 1984Gaffney, 1986;Grace, 1989;Heidrich & Cranley, 1989;Kemp & Page, 1987;Koniak-Griffin, 1988;Leifer, 1977;LoBiondo-Wood 1985;Mercer et al, 1988;Vito, 1986;Wayland & Tate, 1993;Zachariah, 1994). Seeing physical changes and feeling the baby move had a strong impact on these young women.…”

“…While gestational age and quickening were the two most frequently found factors enhancing attachment, other variables such as social support, self-esteem, anxiety, stress, demographics, and risk status were inconsistent (Ard, 2000;Berryman & Windridge, 1996;Bloom, 1995;Colpin, De Munter, Nys, & Vandemeulebroecke, 1998;Condon, 1993;Cranley, 1981Cranley, , 1984Damato, 1998;Gaffney, 1986;Gau, 1996;Grace, 1989;Heidrich & Cranley, 1989;Hinz, 1997;Huth-Bocks, Levendosky, Theran, & Bogat, 2004;James, 1997;Kemp & Page, 1987;Koniak-Griffin, 1988;Leifer, 1977Leifer, , 1980Litt, 1996;LoBiondo-Wood, 1985;Mathews, 1999;Mercer, Ferketich, May, De Joseph, & Sollid, 1988;St. John, 2002;Shieh, 1998;Siddiqui & Hagglof, 1999;Tyler, 1992;Vito, 1986;Wayland & Tate, 1993;Wilson, 1990;Zachariah, 1994).…”

A review of scales to measure the mother–foetus relationship

“…The items are scored on a 5-point Likert-scale (05definitely no to 55definitely yes). One item, 'I feel my body is ugly', which has a reversed scoring, is sometimes deleted because it is not indicative of maternal feelings (Grace, 1989;Muller & Ferketich, 1993;Zachariah, 1994). Furthermore, since Sjö gren et al (2004) used the MFAS from early pregnancy onwards they removed seven items that can only be answered after quickening is felt; they also used a fourchoice format instead of a five-choice format.…”

“…For all MFR scales reviewed, significant relationships were not always found for many specific pregnancy-related factors (such as gestational age, parity, gravidity, planning of the pregnancy, infertility history, knowing the gender of the baby, medical intervention during pregnancy, having twins) as well as for most of the demographic variables (such as age of the mother, educational level, socio-economic status, ethnicity, marital status, duration of the partner relationship and martial satisfaction) (MFAS: Ahern & Ruland, 2003;Bloom, 1995;Cranley, 1981;Curry, 1987;Grace, 1989;Heidrich & Cranley, 1989;Hjelmstedt et al, 2006;Huang et al, 2004 [Modified]; Kemp et al, 1990;Koniak-Griffin, 1988;Lindgren, 2001;Mercer et al, 1988;Muller, 1993Muller, , 1996Shieh & Kravitz, 2006;Sjö gren et al, 2004;Van den Bergh, 1989;Wilson et al, 2000;Zachariah 1994; MAAS: Condon, 1985;Condon & Corkindale, 1997;Condon & Esuvaranathan, 1999;Feldman, 2007;Hart & McMahon, 2006;Tsartsara & Johnson, 2006;PAI: Armstrong, 2002;Damato, 2000;Hjelmstedt et al, 2006;Lawson & Turriff-Jonasson, 2006;Muller, 1993;Prenatal Tool: Kemp & Page, 1987).…”

Prenatal attachment in future parents of twins

“…Studies have shown that prenatal parental attachment increases as the pregnancy progresses (Wu and Eichmann, 1988;Grace, 1989;Zachariah, 1994). Moreover, it has been revealed that prenatal attachment predicts postnatal maternal role attainment (Fowles, 1996), maternal attachment behaviour (Gloger-Tippelt, 1991) and the child's attachment (Benoit et al, 1997).…”