Anxiety and prenatal attachment levels in pregnancy and influencing factors

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the anxiety and prenatal attachment levels of pregnant women, examine certain related factors and evaluate the relationship between anxiety and prenatal attachment. Materials and Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study conducted on pregnant women applying to the pregnancy polyclinic of Sakarya Education and Research Hospital. The study group consisted of 502 pregnant women. Beck Anxiety Scale and Prenatal Attachment Inventory were used to determine the anxiety level of the prenatal attachment level, respectively. Results: Mean age of women participating in the study was 28.07 +/- 4.71 years (min:18, max:40). The mean scores of the pregnant women in the Beck Anxiety Scale and Prenatal Attachment Inventory were determined as 15.10 +/- 9.37 and 44.31 +/- 9.45, respectively. A negative medium level relationship is found between the points obtained in the Beck Anxiety Scale and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory. Conclusion: Anxiety disorders experienced during pregnancy have a negative impact on the maternal and fetal health and weaken the prenatal attachment.