A meta-analytic study of predictors of maternal-fetal attachment.
OBJECTIVE
To identify predictors of maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) through a comprehensive review of the literature, and to use quantitative meta-analysis to determine the magnitude of the relationship between each predictor and MFA.


METHODS
The literature reviewed included 183 studies of MFA, published and unpublished, between 1981 and 2006.


METHODS
Seventy-two studies met the inclusion criteria and yielded 14 predictors of MFA. A meta-analysis was performed on each of the 14 predictors in relation to MFA.


RESULTS
The results indicated that gestational age had a moderate to substantial effect size. Two predictors (social support and prenatal testing) had moderate effect sizes; 10 predictors (anxiety, self-esteem, depression, planned pregnancy, age, parity, ethnicity, marital status, income, and education) had low effect sizes. High-risk pregnancy had a trivial effect size.


CONCLUSIONS
The most powerful predictors of MFA using meta-analysis were identified to direct future research and evidence-based practice.
Yarcheski
Adela
A
College of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. yarchesk@rutgers.edu
Mahon
Noreen E
NE
Yarcheski
Thomas J
TJ
Hanks
Michele M
MM
Cannella
Barbara L
BL
D001007:Anxiety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support