Maternal Attachment Behaviors Research Articles

Maternal adult attachment and mother-adolescent attachment: the chain mediating role of marital satisfaction and harsh parenting.

This study explored the relationship between maternal adult attachment and mother-adolescent attachment based on the attachment theory and spillover hypothesis of family systems theory. A survey research was conducted on 992 mothers and adolescents using a convenience sampling method. A survey research was conducted on 992 Chinese mothers and adolescents using a convenience sampling method. The results indicated that (1) maternal adult attachment avoidance and anxiety were significantly negatively related to maternal marital satisfaction and mother-adolescent attachment, and significantly positively related to maternal harsh parenting; maternal adult attachment anxiety was a significant direct predictor of mother-adolescent attachment; (2) Maternal marital satisfaction and maternal harsh parenting mediated the significant effect between maternal adult attachment and mother-adolescent attachment, specifically pathways contained three: a separate mediating effect of maternal marital satisfaction, a separate mediating effect of maternal harsh parenting, and a chain mediating effect of maternal marital satisfaction and maternal harsh parenting. The findings suggest that maternal adult attachment, marital satisfaction, and harsh parenting behaviors can have significant effects on adolescents' mother-adolescent attachment.

母亲依恋类型与婴儿社会退缩的关系：母亲抑郁的中介作用

母亲依恋类型与婴儿社会退缩的关系：母亲抑郁的中介作用

Maternal Attachment and Maternal Behavior: The Role of Maternal Affect

Maternal Attachment and Maternal Behavior: The Role of Maternal Affect

Non-physiological and Physiological Delivery Method: Comparison of Maternal Attachment Behaviors and Anxiety.

Introduction: Attachment is a stable connection or emotional knot between two individuals as one of the parties tries to maintain this connection. Delivery time as a turning point between two stages of attachment is very important.Methods: In a descriptive–analytical study based on specific inclusion criteria, 262 pregnant women were selected in the age range of 15-45 years old and the gestational age of 37 to 42 weeks who were candidates for physiological or non-physiological delivery. After obtaining written consent forms, the demographic information questionnaire was given to the participants. One hour after delivery, the attachment questionnaire was completed by the researcher in the postpartum ward. Also, the Spielberg anxiety inventory was completed up to 1 hour after delivery. Independent sample t test was used to compare the results between the two groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21.Results: The participants in the physiological delivery group showed more positive attachment behaviors in comparison with the other group. In all three dimensions of attachment (emotional, contiguous, and caring behavior), physiological delivery showed higher scores than the other group. Also in non-physiological delivery group, the participants had experienced higher levels of anxiety and the differences between the groups were not significant.Conclusion: Results of the current study indicated that mothers engaged in physiological delivery had higher scores in mother to child attachment behaviors. It means they are more successful than the non-physiological delivery group in getting attached to their babies.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Complex Post-traumatic Stress in Pregnant Teens: A Pilot Study.

Pregnant teens are seen as a group at risk, yet one area that remains understudied is the impact of trauma on their mental health, maternal fetal attachment and pregnancy-related health behavior. A pilot study of urban pregnant teens receiving home visiting services examined trauma exposure, complex traumatic stress, maternal fetal attachment, and health behaviors of pregnancy. The sample (n = 36) was recruited over a period of 20months from Nurse-Family Partnership of New York City (NFP-NYC) service sites. The teens interviewed completed scales measuring adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), symptoms of complex posttraumatic stress (TSCC), prenatal attachment (MAAS), and pregnancy health behaviors (HPQ-II). Over one third of participants reported 4 or more ACEs (36%), and scores on the Trauma Symptom Checklist subscales ranged from a low of 11% for anger to 25% for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Maternal-fetal attachment was strong and pregnancy health behaviors were positive. The number of ACEs was related to traumatic stress symptoms but not to maternal fetal attachment or health behaviors in pregnancy. Pregnant teens with trauma histories could benefit from access to trauma-informed mental health services integrated into the obstetrical or home-visiting services they receive.

Parent and/or Peer Attachment? Predicting Emerging Adults’ Prosocial Behaviors and Internalizing Symptomatology

Despite the extant literature, our understanding of the relative influence of attachment figures on multiple indices of socioemotional outcomes, especially during emerging adulthood, has been incomplete. The goal of the present study was to explicate the direct and indirect relations among maternal attachment, paternal attachment, peer attachment, internalizing symptomatology, and prosocial behaviors in a sample of emerging adults. Measures of maternal and paternal attachment, peer attachment, internalizing symptomatology (depression, anxiety, and stress) and multidimensional prosocial behaviors (altruistic, anonymous, dire, emotional, compliant, and dire) were administered to 189 college students (49% female; Mage = 18.82 years; 70% White). Maternal attachment was directly related to peer attachment and internalizing symptomatology. Peer attachment mediated the relations between maternal attachment and all outcomes except for public and anonymous prosocial behaviors. Paternal attachment failed to predict any outcomes when considered in the same model as maternal attachment. Further, emerging adult gender did not moderate any paths in the model. Taken together, the current findings underscore the continued importance of parent and peer attachment on mental health and socioemotional competencies during the transition into adulthood.

III. THE ORGANIZATION OF ATTACHMENT BEHAVIOR IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: LINKS WITH MATERNAL SENSITIVITY AND CHILD ATTACHMENT REPRESENTATIONS.

This article investigated two central questions about mother-child attachment relationships during early childhood: (1) the association between maternal sensitivity and child attachment behavior (Study 1) and (2) the link between child attachment behavior and representations (Study 2). In Study 1, maternal sensitivity and child security were assessed in naturalistic contexts among 74 middle-class dyads, when children were about 3.5 and again 5.5 years of age, using the Maternal Behavior with Preschoolers Q-set (MBPQS) and the Attachment Q-set (AQS), respectively. Sensitivity and security were significantly related at each point in time and stable from 3.5 to 5.5 years of age. Furthermore, changes in sensitivity predicted changes in child security. In Study 2, the relationship between the organization of preschoolers' attachment behavior and the structure of attachment representations (secure base script knowledge) was assessed. Participants were 158 preschoolers between 3 and 5.5 years. Children's secure base behavior was described with the AQS, whereas their attachment script knowledge was assessed with the MacArthur Attachment Story Completion Task. The organization of children's secure base behavior was significantly, if modestly, associated with their knowledge of the secure base script.

A comparative study of maternal-neonate abdominal and kangaroo (skin-to-skin) skin contact immediately after birth on maternal attachment behaviors up to 2 months.

BACKGROUND:Early skin-to-skin maternal–neonate contact during the 1st h following birth prepares both mother and baby to establish a two-way, interactive pattern of interaction. There are few studies on the use of kangaroo care method in term infants and maternal postpartum behavior.OBJECTIVE:The present study aimed to compare abdominal and kangaroo skin contact on maternal attachment behaviors.SETTINGS AND DESIGN:This single-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 68 eligible pregnant women in Torbat Heydariyeh in 2015.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Individuals were randomly divided into experimental groups (kangaroo skin contact) and control group (abdominal skin contact). Maternal attachment behaviors were observed for 15 min during 1 h postpartum. Each minute was divided into two 30 s, during the first and second 30 s of which the maternal behavior was observed and recorded using a checklist of behavior. Attachment behaviors were assessed using an attachment behavior checklist (including three types of emotional, proximity-seeking, and caring behaviors).STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:After data coding, the analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis test, Chi-square test, t-test, and Mann–Whitney test in SPSS ver. 14. P < 0.05 was considered the significant level.RESULTS:Among emotional, proximity-seeking, and caring behaviors 1 h and 2 months’ postpartum in the two groups, only proximity-seeking behaviors were significantly different 2 months’ postpartum (P = 0.033). The attachment behavior of 1 h (0.134) and 2 months’ postpartum (0.051) did not differ significantly between the two groups.CONCLUSIONS:Kangaroo skin contact has an effect, similar to the abdominal skin contact, on the maternal attachment behaviors and has a positive effect on proximity-seeking behaviors and some components of emotional behaviors compared to abdominal skin contact.

Prediction of Maternal-Fetal Attachment Based on the Components of Gender Role in Pregnant women

Background and aim: Maternal concept is part of the feminine gender role. The important part of the maternal concept is the unique relationship experience between mother and child that begins with maternal-fetal attachment(MFA) during pregnancy. The aim of this study is predict the MFA according to Gender role in pregnant women in Shiraz city. Methods:This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 171 primiparous and multiparous women with Gestational age above 24 weeks of pregnancy reffering to the obstetric and midwifery department of Shiraz –Kowsar Hospital during 2 monthes period from May to June 2015, which were selected using the Purposive sampling.Data were collected using a Demographic obstetric questionnaire including age and obstetric information,Cranly’s Maretnal Fetal Attachment questionnaire(validity:0.85) and Bem Gender Role questionnaire(reliability:0.90) were used during this study. For data analysis Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression were performed,using spss version 16. Results: Results showed a statistically significant correlation between components of femininity and masculinity of gender role with maternal-fetal attachment. Maximum correlation was between Masculinity and MFA ( R=0.33, P=0.001) and then between Femininity and MFA (R=0.24,P=0.009).There was no correlation between neutral and MFA.(R=0.12,P=0.084) Almost 14% of the variance in maternal-fetal attachment was explained by gender role . According to the comparison of regression coefficients, the femininity indicator (β=0.159 ,P=0.015) and masculinity indicator (β=0.266, P=0.001) were positively predicted the maternal-fetal attachment, but neutral component (β=0.109, P=0.064) was not predicted the maternal-fetal attachment (Table 2). Conclusions: Gender role is part of mental health that predicts MFA during pregnancy. Mental health of mother and fetus can be improved by identifying mothers based Gender role. These finding could be used for promoting maternal fetal attachment behaviors during pregnancy.

Self-control mediates the associations between parental attachment and prosocial behavior among Chinese adolescents

Previous work has revealed that secure parental attachment promotes prosocial behaviors, but its underlying mechanism is less commonly explored. Drawing upon Bowlby's attachment theory, the current study examined the role of self-control in the link between parental attachment and prosocial behaviors. Six hundred and seven Chinese adolescents participated in the study completing measures that assessed parental attachment, self-control, and prosocial behaviors. Results showed that secure maternal attachment, rather than paternal attachment, was directly related to more prosocial behaviors in total sample and girls. Importantly, self-control mediated the links between both maternal and paternal attachment and prosocial behaviors across sex. In conclusion, self-control partly addresses how individuals who report being securely attached to parents engage in more prosocial behaviors.

The Effect of Mother Empowerment Program on Mothers’ Attachment to their Hospitalized Premature Neonates

Background: Birth of a premature neonate is associated with hospital admission and separation from the family. Admission of the neonates intervenes on infant-mother attachment and so adversely affects on the quality of care given by the mother, and subsequently increases the risk of delayed behavioral problems in the children. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of mother empowerment program on the premature infant-mother attachment. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 70 mothers of premature infants, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Omolbanin hospital of Mashhad in 2014, were divided into of intervention and control groups. The Empowerment program was a multi-step treatment program, in which information about the premature infants was provided to mothers through an illustrated booklet with a workbook and audio file in each step. Mothers in the control group received information and routine care according to the hospital guideline. The mother-infant attachment was measured after the intervention using the maternal and neonatal behaviors Avant tool. Data analysis was performed using chi-square and t-student tests by SPSS software version 11.5. Results:The mean scores of maternal attachment behaviors after the intervention in the empowerment and control groups were (56.62±8.06) and (39.51±7.77), respectively; the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that implementation of mother empowerment program increases the mother-premature-infant attachment. Therefore, it is recommended that the empowerment program be routinely utilized to promote the maternal attachment to the premature neonates hospitalized in NICUs.

Comparison of the Effects of Attachment Training for Mothers on the Behavioral Responses of Premature Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Premature infants are among high-risk groups in community who need to be hospitalized at intensive care units for survival and receiving basic or special care. Hospitalization at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) unsettles the family and leads to the separation of parents from their infants. This study aimed to determine the effects of maternal attachment behaviors on the behavioral responses of premature infants, hospitalized at NICUs. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 64 premature infants, who were hospitalized at NICUs and were eligible for the study, were randomly allocated to study and control groups. Attachment behaviors including touching, massage and kangaroo care were applied for the study group, while the conventional attachment method was adopted for the control group. Behavioral responses were evaluated two hours before and two hours after training attachment behaviors. Data were analyzed, using Chi-square and student’s t-test. Results: The mean difference in the duration of deep sleep and consciousness was more significant in the study group, compared to the control group. Furthermore, the duration of drowsiness was significantly less in the study group, compared to the control group. Conclusion: The implementation of attachment training at NICUs decreased the time of drowsiness and improved behavioral responses, deep sleep time and consciousness.

Effects of neonatal fluoxetine exposure on behavior across development in rats selectively bred for an infantile affective trait.

Infants born to women with depressive symptoms are at higher risk for insecure attachment and behavioral problems. Thus current medical practice is to continue psychotropic medication of pregnant women with depression despite concerns about its behavioral teratology. There are few animal studies focused on long-term behavioral effects of prenatal antidepressant exposure; in addition, studies have not looked at individual differences in baseline affective state as a source of response variability. In this study, fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was administered to male and female rat pups from postnatal days 2-7 to model exposure to antidepressants in the human third trimester. Four behavioral measures were conducted from the neonatal to adult age periods in Low and High lines selectively bred for their rate of ultrasonic vocalizations after brief maternal separation. Neonatal fluoxetine administration decreased distress calls in both lines, but to a greater extent in High line rats than Low line. Neonatal fluoxetine also impaired motor coordination in neonates. Neonatal fluoxetine administration decreased social behavior in both juvenile and adult subjects. Fluoxetine-related reductions in anxiety behavior were not observed at the two older ages. As expected, High line subjects displayed more anxiety behavior than Low line subjects at all three test ages. These results suggest that there are may be significant behavioral consequences of antidepressant use during late pregnancy on offspring maternal attachment and social behavior, with implications for increased risk of autism spectrum disorders.

A comparative study on Maternal Fetal Attachment behaviors of women with and without history of perinatal loss

Abstract Background: Maternal mental health and motherhood adaption behaviors during pregnancy have been paid much attention during recent years. This study aims to compare maternal fetal attachment behaviors of women with and without history of perinatal loss Material and Methods: This was a comparative study on women in two groups of women with and without history of perinatal loss. The participants were recruited using a convenience method of sampling, from prenatal care services affiliated to Shahid Behesti University of Medical Sciences. Tools for data collection included a questionnaire with demographic- and fertility- related questions as well as the Persian version of Cranly ’s MFA questionnaire The MFAS scale included questions in groups including role-taking, differentiation of self from fetus, interaction with fetus, attribution of characteristics to fetus, and giving of self. Data was analyzed by SPSS and using t, ANOVA, regression, Chi square, Pearson correlation and Mann Whitney tests. Results: One hundred women aged years (Mean±SD), with weaks gestational age participated in the study. Finding showed that total mean score for MFA of women with history perinatal loss ( Percent) is not significantly different from the mean score of primigravid women without such a history ( Percent) (p< ). Primigravid women without history of perinatal loss had a significantly higher score for the behaviors related to “differentiation of self from fetus” comparing to women with history of perinatal loss But, two groups were not different regarding to other groups of MFA behaviors (p< ). Conclusion: Maternal-fetal attachment behaviors of women with and without history of perinatal loss were not different. However women with the history of perinatal loss shows lower scores for behaviors related to differentiation of self from fetus. Key word: Pregnancy, perinatal loss, Maternal Fetal Attachment

Maternal-Preterm Skin-to-Skin Contact Enhances Child Physiologic Organization and Cognitive Control Across the First 10 Years of Life

Maternal-newborn contact enhances organization of the infant's physiological systems, including stress reactivity, autonomic functioning, and sleep patterns, and supports maturation of the prefrontal cortex and its ensuing effects on cognitive and behavioral control. Premature birth disrupts brain development and is associated with maternal separation and disturbances of contact-sensitive systems. However, it is unknown whether the provision of maternal-preterm contact can improve long-term functioning of these systems. We used the Kangaroo Care (KC) intervention and provided maternal-newborn skin-to-skin contact to 73 premature infants for 14 consecutive days compared with 73 case-matched control subjects receiving standard incubator care. Children were then followed seven times across the first decade of life and multiple physiologic, cognitive, parental mental health, and mother-child relational measures were assessed. KC increased autonomic functioning (respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA) and maternal attachment behavior in the postpartum period, reduced maternal anxiety, and enhanced child cognitive development and executive functions from 6 months to 10 years. By 10 years of age, children receiving KC showed attenuated stress response, improved RSA, organized sleep, and better cognitive control. RSA and maternal behavior were dynamically interrelated over time, leading to improved physiology, executive functions, and mother-child reciprocity at 10 years. These findings are the first to demonstrate long-term effects of early touch-based intervention on children's physiologic organization and behavioral control and have salient implications for the care practices of premature infants. Results demonstrate the dynamic cascades of child physiological regulation and parental provisions in shaping developmental outcome and may inform the construction of more targeted early interventions.

Comparison of the Leboyer Childbirth Method with Normal Vaginal Delivery: Mothers' Perception of Childbirth Experience, Labor Pain, Newborn's Pain Response and Maternal Attachment Behaviors

Objectives: The Leboyer childbirth method is known as less stressful and humane delivery method for both mothers and newborns. The objectives of this study was to compare the Leboyer childbirth method with normal vaginal delivery in terms of mothers perception of the childbirth expe ’ rience, labor pain, newborn's pain response and maternal attachment behaviors. Materials and Methods: Sample of this study included forty one mothers in the Leboyer group and thirty three normal delivery mothers from two women's hospitals during the period of 28th February to 15th April 2010. All mothers completed questionnaires including the Marut and Mercer's perception of childbirth experience, 0~10 numeric scale of labor pain, Lawrence's newborn pain response, and Cropley, Lester, Pennington's maternal attachment behaviors. Results: The findings indicated significantly higher scores for mothers with the Leboyer method ’ of childbirth on the Perception of Childbirth Experience (t=7.47, p<.001) and on maternal attachment behaviors (t=10.39, p<.001) and lower scores on maternal post-labor pain (t=-2.51, p= .014) as well as on the newborn's pain (t=-5.15, p<.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups for pre-labor pain. Conclusion: Mothers with Leboyer childbirth method reported more positive maternal childbirth experiences, maternal attachment behavior, and less newborn's pain response and less post-labor pain than mothers in the comparison group with the exception of pre-labor pain.

Nurses' viewpoint about the impact of Kangaroo Mother Care on the mother–infant attachment

AimThe aim of this investigation was to determine nurses' viewpoint about the impact of Kangaroo Mother Care on the attachment between mother and infant. MethodsA descriptive study was carried out with the staff (23 nurses) of an NICU of a University Hospital in Iran. Data were collected through self-report method (Avant Maternal Attachment Behavior Scale) and analyzed by use of SPSS. FindingsThe majority of the participants had positive viewpoint on the subject of study. The affectionate behavioral subscale had the most effect on the mother–infant attachment, while the item “holding without skin contact” of proximity maintaining subscale was looked at as the most disagree and strongly disagree item (68.2%) of the attachment scale. ConclusionAccording to the nurses' viewpoints, mother–infant attachment behavior are strengthened by applying the Kangaroo Mother Care. Furthermore, the benefits of this type of care are mentioned.

The Maternal Experience of Kangaroo Holding

To describe the maternal experience of kangaroo holding premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Qualitative, naturalistic inquiry design using open-ended, transcribed audiotaped face-to-face interviews. Level III 70-bed tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit in Delaware. Eighteen mothers who kangaroo held their premature infants were interviewed over a 5-month period of time. Mothers were interviewed following a 60-minute kangaroo holding session in the neonatal intensive care unit. Additionally, unobtrusive detailed observation of each mother's kangaroo holding experience was recorded and analyzed. Maternal behaviors and interactions and related nursing and environmental interactions. Triangulation of demographic data, observation data, and themes of the interviews supports the use of kangaroo holding as a method to improve maternal confidence in caring for premature infants. Mothers reported feelings of "being needed" and "feeling comfortable" with the holding experience regardless of the infant's physical health status. Results identify maternal experiences of and responses to kangaroo holding in the intensive care environment, leading to the increased understanding of the multifaceted advantages of kangaroo holding on maternal attachment behaviors.

Similarities and differences in mothers’ and observers’ ratings of infant security on the Attachment Q-Sort

This study examined the similarities and differences in maternal and observer Attachment Behavior Q-Sort ratings (AQS; Waters, 1995) and their relations to dimensions of the developmental ecology – maternal sensitivity, infant irritability, parental stress and psychosocial risk. Data was gathered from low risk (adult mothers; N = 44) and high risk mother–infant dyads (adolescent mothers; N = 83) when infants were aged 6, 10 and 15 months old, attachment being assessed at 15 months by both mothers and independent observers. A common factor was extracted from both sorts and served to operationalize the similarities between mother and observer ratings. Regressions were conducted to extract maternal and observer AQS scores that were unrelated to each other to represent the difference between the two sorts. Correlation analyses indicated that the common AQS factor was moderately linked to maternal sensitivity and parental stress, and showed a weak association to psychosocial risk and infant irritability. Residual maternal scores showed greater correlations with infant irritability and parental stress than did observer residual scores. Observer scores showed a greater correlation with psychosocial risk than maternal scores. Results suggest that common AQS variance presents a pattern of associations with ecological variables that is coherent with attachment research. Variance related to irritability, stress and risk appear to drive the differences between maternal and observer observations.

A Study of the Effects of Behavior Contact in Early Mother-Infant Attachment

The main purpose of this study was to establish a nursing intervention data base to improve maternal attachment. The first group of mothers(control group), experienced their first physical contact with their infants after being discharged from the hospital. The second group(experimental group) practiced early initial mother-infant postpartum contact known as the most sensitive period for founding maternal-infancy attachment. The subjects of this study gave birth to normal infants at M hospital from Aug.25 to Sept.30, 2004. During the same time, data was collected through direct observation, with instruments designed by Cropley et al., to assess the behaviors of normal attachment. The statistical methods for data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation and t-test with an SPSS program. The group practicing initial mother-infant contact, showed a higher degree of physical and functional bonding than the group experiencing the first contact after discharge from the hospital (control group)(p<.01). The group practicing initial mother-infant contact, showed higher degrees of bonding attachment assessments than the group experiencing their first initial contact after their discharge from the hospital(p<.01). The group practicing early mother-infant contact, showed more maternal-infant interaction than the group experiencing their initial contact after their discharge from the hospital. These results show that maternal attachment behavior increases according with an early initial mother-infant contact.