Influence of self-differentiation, psychological discomfort, and marital dyadic adjustment on maternal-fetal attachment in primigravida

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of self-differentiation, psychological discomfort, and dyadic adjustment on maternal-fetal attachment in primigravidae. @*Methods@#In total, 108 primigravidae participated in this correlational study. The participants answered self-report questionnaires. Data were collected from January 14, 2020 to May 4, 2020, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS for Windows ver. 23.0. @*Results@#The mean age of the primigravidae was 31.66 years. The mean score for the degree of maternal-fetal attachment was 76.81 out of 96 points. Participants’ scores for maternal-fetal attachment differed significantly based on age (t=2.08 p=.039) and marital status (t=2.05, p=.043). Maternal-fetal attachment was significantly negatively correlated with psychological discomfort (r=–.39, p<.001), and significantly positively correlated with self-differentiation (r=.36, p<.001) and dyadic adjustment (r=.36, p<.001). Self-differentiation explained 24.1% of variance in participants’ maternal-fetal attachment, and its effect was statistically significant (F=7.79, p<.001). @*Conclusion@#In primigravidae, more self-differentiation was associated with stronger maternal-fetal attachment. To strengthen maternal-fetal attachment in primigravidae, it is necessary to develop an educational program that increases their level of self-differentiation and minimizes their psychological discomfort. Additionally, it is recommended to provide nursing interventions to encourage couples to work together throughout the gestational period.