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Reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the maternal antenatal attachment scale

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An Erratum to this article was published on 30 January 2010

An Erratum to this article was published on 30 January 2010

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the psychometric qualities of the Dutch version of the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS). In a monocentric prospective observational cohort study, 403 expectant mothers completed a booklet with questionnaires in the first (T1), second (T2), and third (T3) pregnancy trimesters. In addition to the MAAS (T1-T3), the following measures were used: the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (T1), the Parental Bonding Inventory (T1), the Relationship Questionnaire (T1) the Facilitator scale and the Regulator scale (T3), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (T1-T3) and the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (T1-T3). In this study, the mean of the MAAS scales increased as the pregnancy progressed. Good internal reliabilities were found for the Total MAAS scale, the Quality subscale and the Preoccupation subscale. Small-to-moderate correlations were found with social desirability, maternal orientation, parental care and adult attachment. Maternal mood was weakly associated with the quality but not with the intensity of the maternal attachment feelings. Overall, our findings suggest that the Dutch version of the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale is a reliable and valid measure of the early emotional tie between a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Family and Sexuality Sciences, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Johan C. H. van Bussel & Koen Demyttenaere

  2. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    Bernard Spitz

  3. Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    Koen Demyttenaere

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  1. Johan C. H. van Bussel
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  2. Bernard Spitz
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  3. Koen Demyttenaere
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Correspondence to Johan C. H. van Bussel.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0133-y

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van Bussel, J.C.H., Spitz, B. & Demyttenaere, K. Reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the maternal antenatal attachment scale. Arch Womens Ment Health 13, 267–277 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0127-9

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