Putter, Kaila, Dimmock, James, Rebar, Amanda, Gallaway, Naomi, Teague, Sam, and Krause, Amanda (2024) Social influences on mothers' ratings of maternal-fetal attachment. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 42 (6). p. 1254.

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Abstract

Background Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) reflects the cognitions, behaviours, and feelings a pregnant woman has towards her fetus. MFA is associated with mood, parental competence, the quality of interactions between mother and infant postnatally, and is positively associated with positive maternal health practices. Social support is an important determinant of MFA and reduces the impact of mental ill-health. Aims and Objectives The aim of this study was to assess whether social support aided in buffering from any negative impact that psychological distress has on MFA and whether that impact varied as a function of the source of support (partner, family, or friends). Methods A micro longitudinal questionnaire design was employed. Pregnant Australian women in a partnered relationship completed five surveys across 13 days (N = 201). Daily psychological distress, perceived social support, and MFA were assessed. Results Multilevel modelling indicated that, when considering all types of social support, partner support drives the effect, suggesting that partner support is the most impactful source of support during pregnancy. Separate multilevel mediation models demonstrated that all three types of social support significantly mediated the relationship between daily distress and MFA, with friends’ support providing the greatest buffering effect. Conclusions Results indicate that greater perceived social support from partners, friends, and family directly and indirectly increase MFA by attenuating daily psychological distress. These findings will contribute to the development of supporter training materials and participant resources for Bamboo, a Web-App-based maternal perinatal social support program aimed at reducing postpartum distress and subsequent reliance on healthcare services.

Item ID:	84432
Item Type:	Article (Abstract)
ISSN:	1469-672X
Keywords:	maternal-fetal bonding, fetus, foetus, attachment, bonding, maternal health, maternal well-being, pregnancy, social support, maternal-fetal attachment,
Additional Information:	Presented at the 44th Annual SRIP Conference 2024, 16-18 September, Dresden, Germany.
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2025 22:10
FoR Codes:	52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology @ 100%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 40% 20 HEALTH > 2005 Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) > 200509 Women's and maternal health @ 60%
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