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05.02.2018 | Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Reliability and validity of the German version of the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale

verfasst von: Anne Doster, Stephanie Wallwiener, Mitho Müller, Lina Maria Matthies, Katharina Plewniok, Sandra Feller, Ruben-Jeremias Kuon, Christof Sohn, Joachim Rom, Markus Wallwiener, Corinna Reck

Erschienen in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Ausgabe 5/2018

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Abstract

Objectives

In understanding early disturbances in the mother–child relationship, maternal–fetal attachment has become an important concept. To date no study has investigated the reliability and validity of the German version of the Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS). The present study aimed to close this gap.

Methods

Questionnaires were completed in a sample of 324 women [third trimester (T1), first week postpartum (T2), and 4 months postpartum (T3)]. In addition to the MFAS (T1), the following measures were assessed: the questionnaire of partnership (T1), the postpartum bonding questionnaire (T2), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (T1–T3), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (T1–T3), and the pregnancy related anxiety questionnaire (T1–T3). Factor structure was analyzed using a principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation. Internal and convergent validities were calculated.

Results

In contrast to the original version with five subscales, PCA yielded a three-factor solution, consisting of the three independent dimensions “anticipation”, “empathy”, and “caring”, explaining 34.9% of the variance together. Good internal reliabilities were found for the total MFAS scale. Maternal–fetal attachment showed a significant negative correlation with postpartum bonding impairment. While no correlations were found with depression, general anxiety and pregnancy-related anxiety during pregnancy, maternal–fetal attachment was significantly related to aspects of partnership quality. In the postpartum period, maternal attachment showed a strong negative correlation with maternal anxiety.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the German version of the MFAS is a reliable and valid questionnaire to measure the emotional relationship of the mother to the unborn child during pregnancy.

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Titel: Reliability and validity of the German version of the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale
verfasst von: Anne Doster
Stephanie Wallwiener
Mitho Müller
Lina Maria Matthies
Katharina Plewniok
Sandra Feller
Ruben-Jeremias Kuon
Christof Sohn
Joachim Rom
Markus Wallwiener
Corinna Reck
Publikationsdatum: 05.02.2018
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Ausgabe 5/2018
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4676-x

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Reliability and validity of the German version of the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale