Comparison of Mental Health and Foetal Attachment in Adolescent and Non-adolescent Pregnancies

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: During adolescence, many physical and mental changes occur. According to evidence, adolescents begin their first sexual activity in younger age and do not use contraceptive methods. Therefore, unwanted pregnancies are more common in this group. The incidence of disorders such as depression, poverty, abuse, neglect and insecure mother to infant attachment are higher in such pregnancies. Aim: To compare the mental health state and maternal to foetal attachment of adolescent and non adolescent mothers. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-comparative study. Total 285 participants were considered and divided in two groups: adolescent (women aged 19 years or younger, n=145) and non-adolescent (women aged 20 years and older, n=140). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used for assessing mental health; Cranley's Maternal-Foetal Attachment Scale (MFAS) was used to collect data about mother to infant attachment. Descriptive statistical methods, chi-square, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data analysis. Results: No significant difference was found between two groups in terms of mental health score (p=0.23), while results of this study indicated a significant difference in terms of foetal attachment between the two groups of participants (p=0.002). Conclusion: Mother-foetal attachment score was low among pregnant adolescent. More studies must be done about this global concern to find suitable intervention.

Keywords

• adolescence
• health behaviour
• pregnancy
• prenatal attachment