Prenatal attachment in Swedish IVF fathers and controls

Abstract

Our first aim was to investigate the pattern of prenatal attachment among partners of women who have become pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF men) and partners of women who have become pregnant without assisted reproductive technology (ART) (controls). A second aim was to analyse whether there is a correlation between degree of prenatal attachment in gestational week 26 and week 36. The third aim was to relate degree of prenatal attachment rated in gestational week 26 and gestational week 36, respectively, to psychosocial factors, way of conception and personality traits among the two groups of fathers. Fifty‐three IVF men from IVF clinics and 37 control men from antenatal clinics in Stockholm were recruited to the study. They completed self‐rating scales measuring prenatal attachment, personality, marital relationship, anxiety and depression. The results showed that IVF fathers are attached to their unborn children to the same extent as other fathers. Prenatal attachment increases during pregnancy although individual scores on prenatal attachment seem to be relatively stable. Contributors to prenatal attachment are ambivalence as well as the personality traits detachment and psychastenia.