Maternal-fetal attachment in high-risk pregnant women: an integrative review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/psicolargum.41.115.AO14

Abstract

Some factors can interfere with the pregnancy process, increasing the chances of a high-risk gestational diagnosis. Investigations into attachment have expanded the field of study to explore the bonding relationship that the mother establishes with the child even during pregnancy, using the concept of maternal-fetal attachment (MFA). The study aimed to analyze the profile of national and international studies on MFA in the context of high-risk pregnancy through an integrative review. The Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scielo, and PubMed databases were used, selecting 13 articles produced between 2018 and 2023. Four thematic categories related to the phenomenon were identified: intervention proposals, explanatory factors of MFA, comparison between high and low-risk pregnant women, and factors correlated with MFA. All evaluated studies have a quantitative design, with sample sizes ranging from 25 to 479 pregnant women. The majority of the studies were conducted in Turkey and only one on a national level. The findings indicated that there is no significant correlation between MFA and high-risk pregnancy, supporting the multidetermined nature of MFA, with an emphasis on the importance of social and familial support during the pregnancy period. Experimental research has methodological weaknesses and did not have a significant impact on the intensity of MFA.

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Author Biographies

Henrique Lima Reis, Federal University of Bahia

Undergraduate student in Psychology at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). Scholar of scientific initiation at the Federal University of Bahia (PIBIC/UFBA). Is part of the Specialized Center for Studies in Human Development (NEEDH).

Ketylen Cardoso Nogueira, Federal University of Bahia

Undergraduate student in Psychology at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). Extension scholarship recipient at the Federal University of Bahia (PIBIEX/UFBA). Is part of the Specialized Center for Studies in Human Development (NEEDH).

Tamiris de Jesus Coelho, Federal University of Bahia

Graduanda em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA). Voluntária de iniciação científica da Universidade Federal da Bahia (PIBIC/UFBA). Integra o Núcleo Especializado de Estudos em Desenvolvimento Humano (NEEDH)

Edi Cristina Manfroi, Federal University of Bahia

Associate Professor at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) - Anísio Teixeira Campus. Ph.D. from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) (2012). Postdoctoral research in Psychology: cognition and behavior from UFMG (2019). Faculty member of the undergraduate Psychology courses and the Professional Master's in Health Psychology

Published

2023-12-02

How to Cite

Aguiar Cerqueira, S., Lima Reis, H., Cardoso Nogueira, K., de Jesus Coelho, T., & Manfroi, E. C. (2023). Maternal-fetal attachment in high-risk pregnant women: an integrative review. Psicologia Argumento, 41(115). https://doi.org/10.7213/psicolargum.41.115.AO14