Style d’attachement, maternité et anxiété spécifique à la grossesse

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this article is to review and to discuss the impact of attachment style during pregnancy on woman's mood and more specifically on pregnancy-specific anxiety. The pregnant woman's concerns about her health and that of her baby's as well as fears about childbirth and the future role of mother, which precisely constitute pregnancy-specific anxiety, are known to be strong activators of stress. Moreover, pregnancy is potentially a stressful life event that arouses the attachment system because of the novelty of the experience and the vulnerability caused by the maturation crisis. MethodsA systematic literature analysis was conducted using online databases (PubMed, MedLine, Embase, Psychinfo, Cairn) with the following keywords: pregnancy, attachment style and anxiety. Original papers were included regardless of publication date. ResultsAlthough the contribution of attachment style in perinatal depression is well documented, only a very few studies have focused on attachment style as a risk factor for pregnancy-specific anxiety. Furthermore, the few reported results suggest that an insecure attachment style contributes to pregnancy-specific anxiety. However, the small number of available studies does not allow to specify which style of insecure attachment better predicts pregnancy-specific anxiety. Anxiety symptoms may be a manifestation of attachment strategies for both avoidant and preoccupied styles. Avoidant women refuse to openly search for help, denying their emotions and their need of others, while preoccupied women adopt an ambivalent attitude towards others, needing social support but fearing rejection at the same time. PerspectiveThe attachment theory can provide an interesting perspective of the psychological experience of pregnancy and contribute to a better understanding of why some women have more anxiety than others. Further research is required to determine which style of attachment is most vulnerable to pregnancy-specific anxiety. In addition, considerations regarding adults’ attachment strategies and search of safety lead us to recommend gathering more information about the connections between attachment style, conjugal relationship and anxiety.