Model of Predicting Quality of Life According to Mother's Attachment to the Fetus with the Mediation of Pregnancy Anxiety in Pregnant Women

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to offer a model of predicting quality of life according to mother's attachment to the fetus with the mediation of pregnancy anxiety in pregnant women. The research method was descriptive-correlational and pathway analysis. The statistical population included pregnant women who referred to the hygiene centers and gynecologists offices in the city of Ahvaz in the autumn and winter of 2019. The statistical population included 400 pregnant women who were selected through available sampling method. The applied questionnaires included Quality of Life Questionnaire (Ware and Sherbourne, 1992) (QLQ), Pregnancy Anxiety Questionnaire (Vandenbergh, 1990) (PAQ) and Mother's Attachment to the Fetus Questionnaire (Cranley, 1981) (MAFQ). The data analysis was conducted through pathway analysis and Bootstrap test. The results showed that mother's attachment to the fetus and pregnancy anxiety have significant relationship with quality of life (p<0.01). Moreover, psychological resilience, couple intimacy, and pregnancy anxiety have significant direct effect on the quality of life (p<0.01). Furthermore, the results of Bootstap test showed that pregnancy anxiety has significant mediation role in the relationship of mother's attachment to the fetus with pregnant women’s quality of life (p<0.01). Finally, the model enjoyed an appropriate goodness of fit. Considering the significant mediation role of pregnancy anxiety it is necessary for the clinical therapists to decrease pregnant women’s anxiety through applying efficient psychological therapy methods.

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