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Review
. 2009 May;46(5):708-15.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2008.10.013. Epub 2008 Dec 9.

A meta-analytic study of predictors of maternal-fetal attachment

Adela Yarcheski  1 , Noreen E Mahon, Thomas J Yarcheski, Michele M Hanks, Barbara L Cannella
Affiliations
Review

A meta-analytic study of predictors of maternal-fetal attachment

Adela Yarcheski et al. Int J Nurs Stud. 2009 May.

Abstract

Objectives: To identify predictors of maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) through a comprehensive review of the literature, and to use quantitative meta-analysis to determine the magnitude of the relationship between each predictor and MFA.

Design: The literature reviewed included 183 studies of MFA, published and unpublished, between 1981 and 2006.

Methods: Seventy-two studies met the inclusion criteria and yielded 14 predictors of MFA. A meta-analysis was performed on each of the 14 predictors in relation to MFA.

Results: The results indicated that gestational age had a moderate to substantial effect size. Two predictors (social support and prenatal testing) had moderate effect sizes; 10 predictors (anxiety, self-esteem, depression, planned pregnancy, age, parity, ethnicity, marital status, income, and education) had low effect sizes. High-risk pregnancy had a trivial effect size.

Conclusions: The most powerful predictors of MFA using meta-analysis were identified to direct future research and evidence-based practice.

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