Ansiedade, qualidade do relacionamento conjugal e vinculação materna ao feto

: estudo com grávidas primíparas e multíparas

Abstract

Pregnancy is a period characterized by several changes in women’s lives. It is at this stage, full of ambivalent feelings, where the formation of the bond between mother and baby is initiated. This prenatal maternal linking relates to different psychosocial variables such as anxiety and marital relationship quality, affecting the welfare of pregnant woman and baby. The main goal of this research was to compare a sample of pregnant gilts, with a group of multiparous women, in terms of prenatal maternal attachment to fetus during pregnancy, and anxiety and quality of the marital relationship. The research was observational, descriptive and transversal. The sample consisted of 62 users of ACES Alto Ave (Regional Health Care Center Cluster of Alto Ave), who were administered the Antenatal Emotional Attachment Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Relationship Questionnaire (RQ). The results showed that the quality of the marital relationship differs between positive pregnant multiparous and primiparous, and the latest have shown most positive aspects in the marital relationship. It was also found that as far as the level of trait anxiety subscale is concerned, multiparous pregnant women have higher anxiety symptoms than pregnant gilts. In terms of prenatal linking and anxiety state, there were no differences registered between primiparous and multiparous pregnants. The results of this research in the psychology of parenting, stress the need for greater investment in prevention and intervention during pregnancy, in order to promote better parenting.

Date of Award	22 Jul 2013
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eleonora C. V. Costa (Supervisor) & Ana Margarida Trovisqueira (Supervisor)