• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.370-378
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• 2008

Purposes: The purposes of this descriptive survey study were to describe levels of Maternal-Fetal Interaction Belief and Maternal-Fetal Interaction, and to define their correlation. Method: Data were collected from 273 pregnant women who visited one public health center and OB/GY clinic in Gangneung city. The instrument used for this study was a self-report questionnaire that included the Maternal-Fetal Interaction Belief scale(MFIBS) and maternal-fetal interaction. Results: The mean scores for maternal-fetal interaction belief and maternal-fetal interaction were $107.41{\pm}15.67$ and $31.75{\pm}5.92$ respectively. For maternal-fetal interaction belief, there were significant differences according to education, religion, income, feeding plan, marriage satisfaction, family support, and husband's love. For maternal-fetal interaction, there were significant differences according to mother's age, period of pregnancy, marriage satisfaction, family support, husband's love. There was a correlation between maternal-fetal interaction belief and maternal-fetal interaction. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal interaction belief is related to increase in maternal-fetal interaction and fetal development. It is essential to develop a maternal-fetal interaction program that includes maternal-fetal interaction belief.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2023

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread widely throughout the world, causing psychological problems such as fear, anxiety, and stress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women have been concerned about both their own health and the health of their fetuses, and these concerns could negatively affect maternal-fetal attachment. Thus, this study aimed to explore the level of COVID-19 stress, resilience, and maternal-fetal attachment among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify factors influencing maternal-fetal attachment. Methods: In total, 118 pregnant women past 20 weeks gestation were recruited from two maternity clinics in Daegu, Korea, to participate in this descriptive correlational study during COVID-19. The factors influencing maternal-fetal attachment were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean scores for COVID-19 stress, resilience, and maternal-fetal attachment were 57.18±10.32 out of 84, 67.32±15.09 out of 100, and 77.23±9.00 out of 96, respectively. Nulliparous pregnant women reported greater maternal-fetal attachment than multiparous pregnant women (p=.003). Religious pregnant women also reported greater maternal-fetal attachment than non-religious pregnant women (p=.039). Resilience (β=.29, p=.002), COVID-19 stress (β=.20, p=.030) and parity (β=-.17, p=.047) were factors influencing maternal-fetal attachment, and these factors explained 26.4% of the variance in maternal-fetal attachment (F=10.12, p<.001). Conclusion: Converse to common sense, COVID-19 stress exerted a positive influence on maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers need to recognize the positive influence of COVID-19 stress and implement intervention strategies to strengthen resilience in pregnant women to improve maternal-fetal attachment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.276-283
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• 2011

Purpose: Prenatal depression is associated with potential negative consequences for the mother and infant. The purpose of this study was to examine pregnant women's stress, and depression and their impact on maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth. Methods: Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and fetal sonogram from a convenience sample of 166 pregnant women. Results: Women who have a low educational level, poor health and are dissatisfied with their marriage showed low maternal-fetal attachment. Prenatal depression had significant correlations with length of pregnancy and level of stress. Even though correlation between maternal stress and fetal weight (r=-.15, p=.099) and correlation between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment (r=-.13, p=.095) were not statistically significant, the impact of the prenatal psychological state of mothers can not be ignored as it relates to fetal health. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth can be affected by maternal emotional state, including stress or depression. These findings suggest that primary care nurses in hospitals and public health centers should provide prenatal depression screening and nursing intervention programs for management and prevention of prenatal stress and depression.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.398-405
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the relationships among the perceptions and practice of taegyo (a traditional set of practices and beliefs related to healthy fetal development) and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women. Methods: The participants were 136 pregnant women who visited a public health center or maternity hospital for prenatal care. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of varience, and Pearson correlation coefficients with SPSS version 22.0. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was $32.24{\pm}3.99$ years. The mean scores for perceptions of taegyo, practice of taegyo, and maternal-fetal attachment were $3.96{\pm}0.53$, $3.74{\pm}0.64$, and $3.94{\pm}0.49$, respectively. Perceptions of taegyo were significantly correlated with the practice of taegyo (r=.72, p<.001), and maternal-fetal attachment (r=.55, p<.001). A significant correlation was also found between the practice of taegyo and maternal-fetal attachment (r=.65, p<.001). Conclusion: Perceptions of taegyo affected the practice of taegyo, and had a positive effect on maternal-fetal attachment. These findings suggest that primary care nurses at hospitals and public health centers should provide nursing intervention programs to improve the perceptions of taegyo, the practice of taegyo, and maternal-fetal attachment.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-104
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• 2008

Purpose: The purposes of this descriptive survey study were to describe Maternal-Fetal Interaction aspect according to period of pregnancy. Method: Data were collected from 273 pregnant women who visited one public health center and OBGY clinic in Gangneung city. The instrument used for this study was a self-report questionnaire. Results: During maternal-fetal interaction, there were significant differences in place, feeling, touch type, voice tone, sensitivity according to period of pregnancy. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal interaction aspect according to period of pregnancy is different. Thus, it is essential to develop maternal-fetal interaction program that includes maternal-fetal interaction aspect according to period of pregnancy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.245-257
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• 1998

The characteristics of health behavior related pregnancy and childbirth have reflected on the cultural belief and value in the society. The efforts for women's health promotion through the current illumination of the traditional health care are the prompting assignment to be in nursing. The process of motherhood already progress before the motherhood actually. The functional state as the expectant mother can be the important predicting factor of the postpartum state, the quality of a married life. Motherhood was analyzed by Walker and Avant's method to clarify the concept 'to be a mother' using the various concepts like Koreans' Taekyo, transition to motherhood, maternal identity, maternal role attainment, maternal fetal attachment, and maternal fetal interaction. Upon the concept analysis, naturalness, responsibility, attachment, readiness, controllability were identified as the defining characteristics of motherhood. The antecedents of motherhood were consist of maternal affection, positive self esteem, pregnancy acceptance, fetus recognition and the consequences of motherhood were consist of positive maternal identity, maternal fetal attachment, confidence about the maternal role, the healthy mother and the healthy baby. The empirical referents of motherhood were consists of recognition of motherhood, expectation about motherhood, fetal recognition with ultrasonography and fetal movement, experience of unification between mother and fetus, expression of affection to the fetus, concern about fetal health, concern and practice about Taekyo, adaptation behavior about physical change and discomfort due to pregnancy. Therefore it is necessary to develop the instruction program of motherhood including the defining attributes identified in this study.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among emotional clarity in emotional intelligence, maternal identity, and fetal attachment to measure how emotional clarity and maternal identity impact on fetal attachment and to determine mediating effects of maternal identity in pregnant women at the time of diagnosis with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: This study used a correlational survey design. 88 pregnant women with GDM completed a study questionnaire of emotional clarity, maternal identity, and fetal attachment immediately after the diagnosis of GDM. Data were analyzed Mann-Whitney U test, and ANOVA with Duncan test, Pearson correlation, three-step regressions to test mediating effect, and Sobel test. Results: The emotional clarity was positively related with maternal identity and fetal attachment. It affected maternal identity with 21.9% of explained variance. The emotional clarity and the maternal identity were significant predictors of fetal attachment by 57.7% of explained variance. The maternal identity mediated the relationship between emotional clarity and fetal attachment. Conclusion: The results suggest that a nursing program to enhance the emotional clarity and the maternal identity needs to be developed as an effective strategy to improve fetal attachment.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of self-differentiation, psychological discomfort, and marital dyadic adjustment on maternal-fetal attachment in primigravida. Methods: In total, 108 primigravida participated in this descriptive correlational study. The participants answered self-report questionnaires. Data were collected from January to May, 2020, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS for Windows ver. 23.0. Results: The mean age of the primigravida was 31.66 years. The mean score for the degree of maternal-fetal attachment was 76.81 out of 96 points. Participants' scores for maternal-fetal attachment differed significantly based on age (t=2.08 p=.039) and marital status (t=2.05, p=.043). Maternal-fetal attachment was significantly negatively correlated with psychological discomfort (r=-.39, p<.001), and significantly positively correlated with self-differentiation (r=.36, p<.001) and marital dyadic adjustment (r=.36, p<.001). Self-differentiation explained 24.1% of variance in participants' maternal-fetal attachment, and its effect was statistically significant (F=7.79, p<.001). Conclusion: In primigravida, more self-differentiation was associated with stronger maternal-fetal attachment. To strengthen maternal-fetal attachment in primigravidae, educational program that increases the level of self-differentiation and minimizes psychological discomfort may be helpful for first time pregnant women. Additionally, it is recommended to provide nursing interventions to encourage couples to work together throughout the gestational period.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.142-152
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• 2013

Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between maternal fetal attachment and state anxiety for pregnant women in preterm labor. Methods: The subjects consisted of 56 pregnant women in preterm labor on C hospital. The data were analyzed using SPSS computer program that includes descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe? test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Age distribution was 30~39 years of age. Mean score of maternal fetal attachment was 91.50. The group whose planned pregnancy was highest showed higher maternal fetal attachment. The primigravida group showed high maternal fetal attachment. Most frequently practiced attachment item was: "I'm really looking forward to seeing what the baby looks like". The next was was: "I enjoy watching my tummy jiggle as the baby kicks inside". There was no difference in degree of anxiety by general and obstetrical characteristics. There was statistically significant of negative correlation between maternal fetal attachment and state anxiety for pregnant women with preterm labor. Conclusion: Findings provide useful information for further studies in reducing anxiety and intervention programs relating to pregnancy and preterm labor. To increase maternal fetal attachment of pregnant women with preterm labor, it is necessary to standardize prenatal education program.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.49-66
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• 2000

Pregnancy is a task of creation in which a women mobilizes her self and the resources available to her in the generation of a new person. Through the pregnancy, a mother has formed the new human relationship with a fetus. Maternal-fetal relationship is considered one of mechanism making the relationship of mother and child. It is important to well-being of mother and fetus, too. The earliest interaction between a mother and her child is during prenatal period. Maternal-fetal dyad is unique and perceived interactions with the fetus make the pregnancy real for the mother. Maternal behavior is "instinctive" and is formed in early childhood by copy of the mother. But, Rubin argues that this behavior is an open intellectual system rather than a prepackaged bundle of traits. There is openness to new learning and a high value placed on knowing which occurs with silent organization in thought. Thus, nurses and other health professionals provide prenatal care that optimally is part of the environment in which the maternal-fetal dyad develops. Thus it is appropriate for nurses to increases their understanding of the dyad and to explore ways to enhance its development. This study focusses on the interaction ability and response of fetus, and the maternal-fetal interaction. The research of fetal responses that involve physiological changes and motor movement have been shown to coccur to both external sensory stimuli and to maternal emotional states. The fetus does also have sensory capacity to be aware of some maternal behaviors, and the motor ability to respond in a way the mother can notice. Thus, very rudimentary interactions appear to be possible. Maternal awareness of fetal activity was supported by several studies. More interesting to the present study are description of maternal-fetal interaction and the finding that there appear to be levels of sensitivity to the fetus involved in maternal-fetal interactions. First, recognition comes that the fetus is separate from the maternal self. Next, the fetus engages in. Lastly, the parent may describe active interaction with the fetus, believing that mother and fetus are communicating on a meaningful level. Several interventions, developed to promote more active interaction between mother and fetus, have been reviewed. In general, the parents were taught to stimulate the fetus and to notice the fetus' responses. This type of intervention might increase the mother's sensitivity to her unborn baby, and she may have a head start toward learning how to res pond sensitivity to the newborn infant. Research In the area of maternal-fetal interaction is scarce. Sensitive behavior is construed as an appropriate and timely response to a signal of need from another person, but no such signal of need can be claimed regarding the fetus. The highest level of maternal-fetal interaction, therefore, might be based more on maternal representations of the imagined fetus than on factual evidence of fetal participation.