DEVELOPMENT OF ATTACHMENT BEHAVIORS IN PREGNANT ADOLESCENTS (ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY).
Contributors: University of Florida.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 163
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology.; Psychology, General.; Women's Studies.
Description: Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant concern in the United States as more than one million young women become pregnant each year. Maternal-fetal attachment in adolescents is an area that warrants additional examination. This exploratory, longitudinal study focused on the effects of maternal age, educational level, race, stage of pregnancy, relationship with the father of the baby, and perception of pregnancy importance on the development of maternal-fetal and subsequent maternal-infant attachment.

Seventy-nine low-income pregnant adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 enrolled in the study in their first trimester. Follow-up data collection was accomplished in the second and third trimesters (n = 64 and 54, respectively) and after delivery (n = 47). Selleck's Pregnancy Importance Questionnaire was administered in the first trimester. Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFA) was administered in each trimester. Avant's Maternal Attachment Assessment Strategy was administered in the first week post-birth.

The findings of this study were consistent with the theoretical premise that maternal attachment begins in pregnancy and increases over time, especially after quickening. There were age-related differences in the development of those maternal-fetal attachment behaviors related to the subscale "giving of self.".

Adolescents who were more attached to the fetus were older, wanted to become pregnant, were closer to and satisfied with the relationship with the father of the baby, and had lower perceived knowledge about birth control. The relationship between MFA and these variables was significant in the first trimester (p $<$.05). As the pregnancy progressed, there were fewer significant relationships. By the third trimester, only knowledge of birth control was still significantly correlated with MFA (p $<$.05). It may be that the cognitive dissonance brought on by disparity between what the adolescent "knows" (how not to get pregnant) and what she "does" (get pregnant) is strong enough to interfere with the developing relationship during pregnancy.

After delivery, adolescents who demonstrated more attachment behaviors were nonblack and satisfied with the relationship with the father of the baby. There was a positive relationship between attachment in the third trimester and demonstration of affectionate behaviors toward the infant after birth (p $<$.05).
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-01, Section: B, page: 0163.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, 1992.

School code: 0070.