An Exploration of Paternal-Fetal Attachment Behavior

Abstract

A 63-item questionnaire utilizing the modified Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (PFA) (Cranley, 1981), the Marital Relationship Scale (Wapner, 1976), and the Physical History Scale (Wapner, 1976) was tested on 100 expectant fathers who had wives in their third trimester of pregnancy. Scores on the PFA were positively correlated with the strength of the marital relationship as perceived by the expectant father during pregnancy. A positive but weak association was shown between paternal-fetal attachment and the incidence of physical symptoms resembling pregnancy in the expectant father. Further testing of the PFA and related variables is indicated.