The Interactional Model of Maternal-Fetal Attachment: An Empirical Analysis

An Interactional Model of Maternal-Fetal Attachment was empirically
studied to analyze contributions of fetal characteristics and psychoanalytic and
ecological components. Ninety-nine women during their third trimester were
administered questionnaires about themselves, their environment, and their fetus to
identify predictors of maternal-fetal attachment. Whether the woman knew the fetus’
gender and fetal age were the best predictors of the strength of maternal-fetal
attachment. These data suggest that the mother’s interactions with her fetus are
stronger predictors of attachment than her internal working model or her environment.
The findings support an interactional model of maternal-fetal attachment.
KEY WORDS: maternal-fetal attachment, interactional model, pregnancy, prenatal
bonding