Prenatal Attachment and the Relationship With Body Self-Perception

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Prenatal attachment is crucial for maternal-fetal well-being.
• Understanding factors influencing prenatal attachment is essential for supportive care.
• Body self-perception may impact the maternal-fetal bond during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with prenatal attachment.
• To determine the relationship between prenatal attachment and body self-perception in pregnant women.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive correlational study design.
• 183 healthy pregnant women (≥20 weeks gestation) participated.
• Data collected via personal forms, Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), and Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Mean PAI score was 67.74 (SD=9.98).
• Younger women (<20 years) and those with more pregnancies showed lower prenatal attachment.
• Prenatal attachment showed a weak positive correlation with overall body self-perception and specific subscales (Appearance Evaluation, Fitness Evaluation, Health Orientation, Fitness Orientation, Body Areas Satisfaction).

Conclusions:

• Positive body image and health-oriented behaviors are linked to higher prenatal attachment.
• Educational programs focusing on positive body image and health behaviors during pregnancy are recommended.
• Interventions to enhance adaptation to pregnancy can improve maternal-fetal bonding.