The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic
Abstract Background Maternal-fetal attachment might be associated with maternal mental health issues, but previous results have been inconsistent, particularly regarding prenatal anxiety. We compared maternal-fetal attachment between pregnant women with and without symptoms of antenatal depression a...
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02308-1 |
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| author | Hana Němcová Marie Kuklová Kristýna Hrdličková Anna Horáková Antonin Sebela |
| author_facet | Hana Němcová Marie Kuklová Kristýna Hrdličková Anna Horáková Antonin Sebela |
| author_sort | Hana Němcová |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Maternal-fetal attachment might be associated with maternal mental health issues, but previous results have been inconsistent, particularly regarding prenatal anxiety. We compared maternal-fetal attachment between pregnant women with and without symptoms of antenatal depression and anxiety. Additionally, we examined the relationships between prenatal depressive and anxiety symptoms, psychosocial stress, and maternal-fetal attachment. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 2,233 pregnant women. The data were collected between March 2021 and March 2023 at outpatient clinics in the Czech Republic. We used self-report questionnaires to assess symptoms of prenatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS), anxiety (Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale, PASS), psychosocial stress (Prenatal Psychosocial Profile, PPP), and maternal-fetal attachment (Prenatal Attachment Inventory – Revised, PAI-R). Results Women without symptoms of antenatal depression had higher total scores on the PAI-R (U = 336,357; p = .013) and on the PAI-R Interaction subscale (U = 322,913; p < .001), suggesting a higher quality of maternal-fetal attachment than women with symptoms. No other significant associations were found between antenatal depression, anxiety and the PAI-R subscales scores. Conclusions Our results suggest that women experiencing increased depressive, but not anxiety, symptoms in pregnancy, have a poorer quality of attachment to their child, although the effect size is small. Consequently, treating prenatal depression in women could have a positive effect on maternal-fetal attachment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb7062191adb4e58a2e92b7a03225b65 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb7062191adb4e58a2e92b7a03225b652025-08-20T03:01:38ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-03-0113111010.1186/s40359-024-02308-1The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech RepublicHana Němcová0Marie Kuklová1Kristýna Hrdličková2Anna Horáková3Antonin Sebela4National Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Mental HealthAbstract Background Maternal-fetal attachment might be associated with maternal mental health issues, but previous results have been inconsistent, particularly regarding prenatal anxiety. We compared maternal-fetal attachment between pregnant women with and without symptoms of antenatal depression and anxiety. Additionally, we examined the relationships between prenatal depressive and anxiety symptoms, psychosocial stress, and maternal-fetal attachment. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 2,233 pregnant women. The data were collected between March 2021 and March 2023 at outpatient clinics in the Czech Republic. We used self-report questionnaires to assess symptoms of prenatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS), anxiety (Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale, PASS), psychosocial stress (Prenatal Psychosocial Profile, PPP), and maternal-fetal attachment (Prenatal Attachment Inventory – Revised, PAI-R). Results Women without symptoms of antenatal depression had higher total scores on the PAI-R (U = 336,357; p = .013) and on the PAI-R Interaction subscale (U = 322,913; p < .001), suggesting a higher quality of maternal-fetal attachment than women with symptoms. No other significant associations were found between antenatal depression, anxiety and the PAI-R subscales scores. Conclusions Our results suggest that women experiencing increased depressive, but not anxiety, symptoms in pregnancy, have a poorer quality of attachment to their child, although the effect size is small. Consequently, treating prenatal depression in women could have a positive effect on maternal-fetal attachment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02308-1Maternal-fetal attachmentAntenatal depressionAntenatal anxietyPregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Hana Němcová Marie Kuklová Kristýna Hrdličková Anna Horáková Antonin Sebela The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic BMC Psychology Maternal-fetal attachment Antenatal depression Antenatal anxiety Pregnancy |
| title | The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic |
| title_full | The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic |
| title_short | The relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal-fetal attachment: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic |
| title_sort | relationship between maternal psychopathology and maternal fetal attachment a cross sectional study from the czech republic |
| topic | Maternal-fetal attachment Antenatal depression Antenatal anxiety Pregnancy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02308-1 |
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