| Description |
Attachment style has been shown to be predictive of future interpersonal interactions, behavioral outcomes, and child development. This emotional bond is fostered through a mother's ability to assess and meet her child's needs. Maternal antenatal (before birth) attachment is an essential focus because it predicts future mother-infant attachment. Mindfulness, or the skill of being present moment-to-moment, has implications for the development and quality of attachment. Higher levels of mindfulness have been shown to enhance psychological well-being and mitigate the risk of negative health outcomes. Despite mindfulness being investigated in the context of psychological well-being and postnatal attachment, research on the benefits of mindfulness on maternal antenatal attachment is lacking. The present study examines the relationship between maternal mindfulness and antenatal attachment, which previous literature suggests is predictive of future parenting and healthy infant development. This analysis of 385 pregnant women in their third trimester examined the associations between mindfulness and antenatal attachment. Findings revealed that higher levels of mindfulness during pregnancy were associated with more secure antenatal attachment. Further, findings indicated both mindfulness and antenatal attachment were associated with multiple maternal characteristics (i.e., life stress, perceived social support, and emotion regulation). These findings add to the literature by examining earlier developmental stages of attachment when an emotional bond is initiated with the fetus in utero. Further, our findings related to maternal mindfulness during pregnancy and antenatal attachment build on the growing body of mindfulness-based literature. Understanding how to utilize the skill of mindfulness to promote a more secure antenatal attachment may enhance healthcare providers' and researchers' understanding of the clinical application of mindfulness-based interventions in perinatal care. |
