THE CORRELATES OF ANTENATAL ATTACHMENT IN PREGNANT-WOMEN

Maternal-foetal attachment represents the earliest and most basic form of human intimacy, and has both theoretical and clinical significance . Utilizing a previously published self-report questionnaire to assess antenatal attachment, the present paper explores its correlates using 238 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Extrapolating from stu dies of maternal-infant attachment, it was hypothesized that depressio n and a lack of social support would be detrimental to the development of maternal antenatal attachment. The findings confirmed these hypoth esized effects. In particular, the subgroup of women having low attach ment was characterized by high levels of depression and anxiety low le vels of social support (outside the partner relationship) and high lev els of control, domination and criticism within the partner relationsh ip. Antenatal attachment may be predictive for future maternal-infant attachment. The findings suggest that negative mood states and lack of social support during pregnancy may warrant greater attention than ha s previously been accorded them.