Relationship of Maternal Age, Quickening, and Physical Symptoms of Pregnancy on the Development of Maternal-Fetal Attachment

摘要

A mother's attachment to her child has been noted to be an integral part of that child's development and socialization. Past research has focused on factors that impact on this relationship, notably bonding that occurs in the immediate postpartum period. Recently, the prospect of maternal-fetal attachment has been proposed. The Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale has been developed and tested to evaluate the existence and progression of maternal feelings toward the unborn child. The present study investigated the relationship between three factors that could influence maternal-fetal attachment: (a) maternal age, (b) the experience of quickening, and (c) the physical symptoms of pregnancy. Based on this rationale, the following hypotheses were tested: 1. There will be a relationship between maternal age and maternal-fetal attachment. 2. There will be a relationship between the physical symptoms of pregnancy and maternal-fetal attachment. 3. Maternal-fetal attachment will be significantly higher for those pregnant women after experiencing quickening than for those pregnant women prior to experiencing quickening, regardless of age or physical symptoms of pregnancy. (sdw)