A longitudinal study of parental attachment: pre- and postnatal study with couples

• Published in: Journal of reproductive and infant psychology Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 509 - 522
• Main Authors: Fijałkowska, Dominika, Bielawska-Batorowicz, Eleonora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 19.10.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Attachment; Attitudes; Childbirth & labor; Childhood; depressiveness; Fathers; intergenerational transmission; Longitudinal studies; Mental depression; Mothers; Parent-child relations; Parental attachment; Parents & parenting; postnatal; Postpartum depression; Postpartum period; Postpartum women; Pregnancy; prenatal; Prenatal care; postnatal; depressiveness; Parental attachment; prenatal; intergenerational transmission
• ISSN: 0264-6838; 1469-672X
• DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2019.1665172

Objective: To identify factors associated with parental pre- and postnatal attachment to a child. Background: Establishing a relationship with a child is one of the most important parental tasks during pregnancy. Studies examining the determinants of parental attachment have focused mostly on mothers and prenatal period. Methods: Couples awaiting their first child were recruited for a prospective study, with the first stage (3rd trimester of pregnancy) and the second (after delivery). Mothers and fathers completed questionnaires: MAAS/PAAS, MPAS/PPAS by Condon; KPR-Roc M/O by Plopa; EPDS by Cox et al. and the PRAM by Vreeswijk et al. Results: The most important factors for prenatal maternal attachment included depressiveness, an accepting mother's attitude and the partner's relationship; whereas postpartum depressiveness and prenatal maternal attachment were important for postnatal maternal attachment. For men, partner's depressiveness, an inconsistent and over-protecting mother's attitude and a declaration of attendance at birth predicted their relationship with the child during pregnancy, and prenatal paternal attachment for the period after childbirth. Conclusions: The determinants of parental attachment to a child differ for men and women. The most important prenatally are depressiveness, attitudes of their own parents recorded from childhood, while prenatal attachment to a child is most significant postnatally.