Investigating the relationship between the dimensions of mindfulness and maternal attachment to the fetus during pregnancy

Nahid Golmakani; Fatemeh Shaghaghi; Zohre Ahmadi; Mahboobe Gholami; Zahra Kamali; Zahra Mohebbi-Dehnavi

doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1513_20

Investigating the relationship between the dimensions of mindfulness and maternal attachment to the fetus during pregnancy

J Educ Health Promot. 2021 Nov 30:10:433. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1513_20. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Nahid Golmakani¹, Fatemeh Shaghaghi², Zohre Ahmadi³, Mahboobe Gholami⁴, Zahra Kamali⁵, Zahra Mohebbi-Dehnavi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
² Phd Candidate of Sexual and Reprouductive Health, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
³ Midwifery, Afshar Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
⁴ Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
⁵ Msc of Mideifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Neyshabour University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabour, Iran.
⁶ PhD Candidate in Reproductive Health, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Maternal attachment to the fetus is a term used to describe the emotional relationship between mother and fetus. This emotional connection increases during pregnancy and is reflected in her feelings, perceptions, and behaviors. Mindfulness is important as one of the factors affecting the mental health of people during pregnancy. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between the dimensions of mindfulness and maternal attachment to the fetus during pregnancy.

Materials and methods: The present study was performed on 500 pregnant mothers referred to health centers affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The samples were entered into the study by available sampling method and if they had inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria. The research instruments were the Fetal Attachment Questionnaire and the Bauer Mindfulness Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22.

Results: The results of the data showed that there was no significant relationship between the overall score of mindfulness and the overall score of maternal attachment to the fetus (P = 0.62). While from the dimensions of mindfulness such as "action with awareness" there was a significant negative relationship (P = 0.03) with maternal attachment to the fetus and a significant positive relationship "observation" with maternal attachment to the fetus (P = 0.03).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, there is a relationship between maternal attachment to the fetus during pregnancy and a number of dimensions of mindfulness. For this purpose, since mindfulness can increase the mother's interactions with the fetus, and this interaction begins during pregnancy and with the mother's attachment to the fetus, it is important to pay attention to this.

Keywords: Maternal attachment to the fetus; mindfulness; pregnancy.