Assessing the validity of the dimensions of prenatal attachment.

Abstract

Prenatal attachment has been considered a multidimensional construct. The Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS) was developed to measure prenatal attachment. Five subscales were incorporated into the MFAS to represent the dimensions. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the dimensions of prenatal attachment as represented by the MFAS subscales. A content analysis of parental remarks about the fetus was conducted. The categories generated from this analysis did not correspond to the MFAS subscales. Therefore, while the results support prenatal attachment as multidimensional, they did not support the specific dimensions represented by the MFAS.