Reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the maternal antenatal attachment scale.
In this study, we investigated the psychometric qualities of the Dutch version of the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS). In a monocentric prospective observational cohort study, 403 expectant mothers completed a booklet with questionnaires in the first (T1), second (T2), and third (T3) pregnancy trimesters. In addition to the MAAS (T1-T3), the following measures were used: the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (T1), the Parental Bonding Inventory (T1), the Relationship Questionnaire (T1) the Facilitator scale and the Regulator scale (T3), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (T1-T3) and the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (T1-T3). In this study, the mean of the MAAS scales increased as the pregnancy progressed. Good internal reliabilities were found for the Total MAAS scale, the Quality subscale and the Preoccupation subscale. Small-to-moderate correlations were found with social desirability, maternal orientation, parental care and adult attachment. Maternal mood was weakly associated with the quality but not with the intensity of the maternal attachment feelings. Overall, our findings suggest that the Dutch version of the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale is a reliable and valid measure of the early emotional tie between a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
Institute of Family and Sexuality Sciences, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. johan.vanbussel@med.kuleuven.be
Johan C H
JC
van Bussel
Bernard
B
Spitz
Koen
K
Demyttenaere
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors