Attachment Styles, Various Maternal Representations and A Bond to a Baby.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between: (a) new mothers' styles of attachment to their own mothers with their representation of self as a mother as well as with their representation of one's mother as a mother, (b) new mothers' representation of self as a mother with their representation of one's own mother as a mother, and (c) their bonds with their children and their styles of attachment to their own mothers. (2) Methods: A total of 86 mothers were interviewed approximately six months postpartum. The Adjective Checklist, a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships, and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire were used in the study. (3) Results: Analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between the new mothers' styles of attachment to their own mothers and both their representation of self as a mother and their representation of one's mother as a mother. The relationship between representation of self as a mother and representation of one's mother as a mother was also statistically significant. No statistically significant relationship was observed between the style of attachment to one's mother and the bond with one's child six months postpartum. (4) Conclusions: A deeper understanding of the relationship between these variables may improve the help system directed at young mothers.

The Dynamics of Becoming a Mother during Pregnancy and After Childbirth.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between one's maternal attachment style and one's self-image as a mother, image of one's mother as a mother, and bond with the child over a period of several months. METHODS: A total of 86 women took part in the study The Adjective Check List (ACL), Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), and a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) were used. Two measurements were used: during pregnancy and about six months after the birth of the child. RESULTS: In terms of their self-image as mothers, the women had higher results the first time they took the questionnaire, regardless of their attachment style. An interaction effect was found between attachment style and the 'need for changes' scale. The image of one's mother as a mother depended on the level of avoidance in attachment, regardless of the measurement. An interaction effect was found between attachment style and the scale of 'personal adaptation'. There was a correlation between the bond with the child during pregnancy, the bond following birth, and the style of maternal attachment; the main predictor of the bond with the child after birth is the bond with the child during the pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Those who provide care for pregnant women and new mothers should be aware of the complex psychological processes in the transition to motherhood, have knowledge about perinatal mental health, and when necessary, refer women to specialists such as support groups for new mothers, trained midwives, psychologists, psychotherapists, or psychiatrists.

Maternal attachment style during pregnancy and becoming a mother in Poland.

OBJECTIVE: This paper investigates the connections in pregnant women between their mother attachment style and their self-image as a mother, the image of their mother as a mother, and their bond with the unborn child. BACKGROUND: The relationship with one's mother plays a crucial role in the process of becoming a mother. It influences what a pregnant woman thinks about herself as a mother. This relationship is a predictor of the bond with the child during the pregnancy. METHODS: This research was participated in by 165 pregnant women. They completed the following: a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) questionnaire, investigating a mother's attachment to her own mother; the Adjective Check List (ACL), developed by Gough and Heilbrun; the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS); and a sociodemographic survey. RESULTS: A mother's attachment style is connected with the need for autonomy, as measured by the ACL, and with 'assuming a parental role' in the MFAS questionnaire. The strongest connection was found between a mother's attachment style and the image of one's own mother as a mother. Statistically-significant correlations were found for 32 of 37 scales on the ACL. CONCLUSION: Attachment style exerts influence upon a mother's self-image, the image of one's own mother as a mother and the bond with the unborn child.