The relation between social support, anxiety and distress symptoms and maternal fetal attachment. (8th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hopkins, Joyce; Miller, Jennifer L.; Butler, Kristina; Gibson, Lynda; Hedrick, Laura; Boyle, Deborah Anne
• Is Part Of: Journal of reproductive and infant psychology. Volume 36:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 392
• Publication Date: 2018-08-08
• Subjects: Maternal–fetal attachment -- social support -- anxiety -- distress; Human reproduction -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Infant psychology -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Child Psychology -- Periodicals; Women -- psychology -- Periodicals; 612.6
• DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2018.1466385
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-6838

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The aims of this study were to: (1) examine the relation between social support, trait anxiety, symptoms of maternal distress (including stress, depression and anxiety) and maternal–fetal attachment; and (2) to determine if social support buffers the relation between trait anxiety, symptoms of distress and maternal–fetal attachment. Design: Ninety-four pregnant women completed five self-report questions. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the influence of trait anxiety, symptoms of distress, and social support on two factors of maternal–fetal attachment, quality and intensity/frequency. Results: In the first model with the dependent measure as the maternal–fetal attachment quality score, trait anxiety ( β = –.24, p < .05) and social support ( β = .30, p < .01) were significant predictors, accounting for 18% of the variance. In the second model with the dependent measure as the maternal–fetal attachment intensity/frequency score, trait anxiety ( β = –.23, p < .05) and social support ( β = .32, p < .01) were significant predictors, accounting for 23% of the variance. In addition, the interaction term contributed a significant 4% of the variance, indicating that when social support is high, the relation between anxiety and maternal–fetal attachment intensity/frequency is attenuated. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that prenatal attachment is related to trait anxiety and social support. These findings suggest that interventions to decrease anxiety and increase social support could enhance maternal–fetal attachment.