The impact of distress experienced during pregnancy on prenatal attachment

Objective: To determine the impact of distress experienced during pregnancy on prenatal attachment. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 370 pregnant women who admitted to the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Faculty of Medicine of a Foundation University between March and July 2018. The data were obtained by using introductory information form, prenatal attachment scale and prenatal distress scale. Frequency and percentage distribution, mean values, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman’s correlation analysis were used for the analysis of the data. Results: Of the pregnant women, 82.9% were in the age group of 18–35, 36.8% were primigravida, 52.2% were always compatible with their partners, 70.8% got family support during this pregnancy and 30.2% had problems during this pregnancy. Mean scores of pregnant women in prenatal attachment scale and prenatal distress scale were 62.35±11.28 and 10.26 ± 5.18, respectively. There was negatively weak and significantly advanced correlation between two mean scores. Conclusion: Distress experienced during pregnancy affects prenatal attachment negatively. Prenatal distress level is significantly low in women who conceive intentionally and it is their first pregnancy, do not experience any problem and are always compatible with their partners. Planned pregnancy and compatibility with partner have a positive impact on prenatal attachment level.