Influence of family functioning on maternal-fetal attachment.
Although the development of a positive relationship between the mother and infant most likely begins during pregnancy, the correlates of maternal-fetal attachment are poorly understood. This study examined the influence of family functioning on maternal-fetal attachment in a sample of varied ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The authors surveyed 339 pregnant women in their last trimesters with the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales-III (FACES-III), Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFA), and a demographic interview. On the basis of correlational and regression analyses, the demographic variables of parity, ethnicity, age, education, and occupation of primary wage earner correlated significantly with maternal-fetal attachment. When entered in a multiple regression analysis, parity, ethnicity, and occupation explained 12% of the variance in the MFA scores. The FACES-III total score and the subscale scores of adaptability and cohesion also correlated significantly with scores on the MFA and explained an additional 3% of the variance in the MFA beyond that explained by the demographics. Support of positive family dynamics during pregnancy by health care workers may potentially increase the quality of maternal-fetal attachment.
Fuller
S G
SG
College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208.
Moore
L R
LR
Lester
J W
JW
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005006:Ethnicity; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors