The role of psychosocial variables in prenatal attachment: an examination of moderational effects

Abstract

Prenatal attachment, which refers to the feeling of love for one’s unborn child, has been related to the future parent-child relationship. However, attempts to link prenatal attachment to parental psychosocial variables have generated inconsistent results. I argue that these disappointing findings can be explained because correlates of prenatal attachment were studied in isolation. Using a sample comprising 161 Canadian adult couples all expecting their first child, the present paper examines correlates of prenatal attachment in interaction. In the third trimester of the pregnancy, each participant completed measures of prenatal attachment, neuroticism, union quality with partners, attachment to parents and pregnancy planning. Results reveal that, for women, union quality with their partner was positively associated with their level of prenatal attachment, but only for those with low levels of neuroticism or low levels of attachment to their parents. Results are slightly different for men. Men’s quality of union with their partner was positively associated with their attachment to their unborn child, but only for those who were also strongly attached to their parents. The unique combination of risk and protective factors of future parents seems to explain the quality of their prenatal attachment.

Keywords:

• prenatal attachment
• union quality
• neuroticism
• attachment to parents
• parenthood

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.