Parent-infant attachment: a study of parental attitudes and behaviors prior to adoption

The purpose of the study was to identify the feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of expectant adoptive couples pertaining to attachment. To this end, each member of five couples involved in private adoption who were awaiting the delivery of a promised infant were interviewed using a modified version of the Cranley Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale to which various subscales related to adoption were added. The findings of the study revealed that these expectant adoptive parents did engage in attachment behaviors and expressed strong feelings and attitudes. Refinement of the tool and expansion of this research are clearly indicated.