The effect of an attachment-based intervention program on attachment, expectation, and stress in pregnant women: A randomized controlled study

Aim

This study aimed to determine the effect of an attachment-based intervention program (ABIP) on attachment, prenatal expectation and stress levels in pregnant women.

Methods

This randomized controlled study was conducted in the pregnant outpatient clinics of a public hospital in Turkey. The study sample consisted of a total of 154 pregnant women (77 experimental, 77 control) at 28–38 weeks of gestation. The ABIP was applied to the pregnant women in the experimental group for 5–7 days. The ABIP included five interventions: (1) perceiving/counting fetal movements; (2) music therapy; (3) preparation for the baby; (4) writing notes/letters to the baby; and (5) watching images of the fetus/pregnancy.

Results

After the ABIP, pregnant women in the experimental group had higher prenatal maternal attachment and prenatal positive expectation mean scores than those in the control group, and the difference between them was statistically significant in favor of those in the experimental group (P < .001). In addition, pregnant women in the experimental group had lower prenatal negative expectation and prenatal distress mean scores than those in the control group, and the difference between them was statistically significant in favor of those in the experimental group (P < .001).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that ABIP is a unique and pioneering program to increase maternal-antenatal attachment and prenatal positive expectations and reducing prenatal negative expectations and distress through diverse interventions. However, further research is required to assess the effectiveness of ABIP on maternal-fetal attachment, prenatal maternal expectations, and prenatal distress.