The relatıonshıp between pregnant women's anxıety levels about coronavırus and prenatal attachment

Abstract

AimThis study aimed to determine the relationship between pregnant women's anxiety levels related to concerns about the effect of coronavirus on prenatal attachment. Design and methodThis a descriptive and correlational design study was conducted from September 2020 to January 2021; it included 101 pregnant women who were more than 20 weeks pregnant. Introductory questionnaire, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory were used as data collection tools. ResultsOf the participants, 80.2% were 35 years old or younger. The participants' mean Coronavirus Anxiety Scale score was 8.85 ± 5.02 (min: 0, max: 17), which was close to the scale's cut-off value. Of the participants, 68.3% had high levels of perceived anxiety about coronavirus. The participants' mean Prenatal Attachment Inventory score was 60.08 ± 21.26 (min: 21, max: 84). Of the participants, 54.3% had high levels of Prenatal Attachment Inventory. Correlation analysis found a negative, but significant relationship between the participants' scores on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (r = −244, p = 0.014). ConclusionThe participants' prenatal attachment levels increased as their perceived anxiety scores about coronavirus decreased.