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Comparison of maternal–and paternal–fetal attachment in Turkish couples
Abstract
Objective to compare maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) and paternal-fetal attachment (PFA) in terms of selected variables.Design cross-sectional study.Setting three training hospitals in Ankara, Turkey. The study was performed between December 2005 and March 2006.Participants a total of 144 pregnant women and 144 partners participated in the study; the response rate was 98%.Findings there was a statistically significant difference between MFA and PFA scores (p<0.001). A comparison of MFA and PFA scores according to the selected variables (education, employment status, planning of pregnancy, pregnancy risk status) revealed that the MFA scores for pregnant women were significantly higher than the PFA scores of their partners, except for unemployed partners. The MFA (rho=-0.24, p<0.004) and PFA (rho=-0.32, p<0.001) scores decreased with increasing age of both pregnant women and their partners.Key conclusions and implications for practice although partners have lower fetal attachment scores than pregnant women, it is important to recognise factors influencing the attachment of the mother and father towards their fetus. Prenatal midwives and nurses are in a unique position to assess attachment and to intervene to promote attachment behaviours.
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“At the same time, fathers ' process of bonding may differ considerably from that of mothers (i.e., lower levels of bonding; Lorensen et al., 2004; Ustunsoz et al., 2010), as may the vulnerability and resilience factors that are associated with bonding.”
From Mindfulness, Self-compassion, and Psychological Wellbeing as Correlates of Paternal Bonding in Pregnancy. (2025) · cites this paper as Ustunsoz et al., 2010
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Metadata
- Authors
- Ustunsoz, A., Guvenc, G., Akyuz, A., & Oflaz, F.
- Affiliations
- Gülhane Askerî Tıp Akademisi (TR)
- Corresponding author
- Ustunsoz, A.
- ORCID
- Oflaz, F.
- Venue
- Midwifery
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-04
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e1-e9
- ISSN
- 0266-6138 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2127601255
- Cited by
- 140
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 3.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Midwifery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Keywords
- maternal-fetal attachment, prenatal attachment, pregnant women, partners, paternal involvement in pregnancy, maternal age, pregnancy planning, prenatal nursing
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Father-Child Relations, Female, Humans, Male, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Paternal Behavior, Personality Inventory, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Turkey, Maternal-Fetal Relations, Young Adult
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