Keywords
maternal attachment styles
alexithymia
depressive symptoms
How to Cite
Abstract
Maternal-fetal attachment refers to the emotional and cognitive bond a pregnant woman develops with her unborn child. This bond plays a significant role in prenatal care behaviors and the later formation of the mother-infant relationship. The aim of the present study was to identify the psychological mechanisms underlying maternal-fetal attachment, with particular emphasis on maternal attachment styles, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms, using a serial mediation model. The study sample consisted of 173 women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The findings indicated that maternal attachment styles – secure, anxious, and avoidant – significantly influenced emotional bonding with the unborn child. Alexithymia and depressive symptoms functioned as successive mediators in this process. A secure attachment style was associated with lower levels of alexithymia and depressive symptoms, which in turn facilitated stronger maternal-fetal attachment. Conversely, anxious and avoidant attachment styles were linked to higher levels of alexithymia and depressive symptoms, which weakened maternal-fetal attachment.
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