Abstract
This study is an analysis of the relationship of a number of variables to early maternal attachment behavior. Maternal responsive behavior was used as the measure of attachment. Observations were made in the delivery room, during a postpartum feeding and during a feeding four weeks following delivery. Forty primiparous mothers and newborns served as research subjects.
The results show a shift over time in the factors which are most highly related to attachment behavior. In the delivery room the fathers' responsive behavior is the most significant factor (p ≥ .003). During the postpartum feeding the mothers' behavior in the delivery room is the most significant factor (p ≥ .001) . At four weeks postpartum the mothers' age is most highly related to her responsive behavior (p ≥ .001) and measures of social stability (p ≥ .001) have increased significance.
Observations of behavior which have a high degree of correlation in the hospital setting, do not have the same degree of significance in a home setting at four weeks. At this time other factors, age and social stability, have an increased degree of significance. How these factors may reflect a mother's social support system and relate to her attachment behavior is discussed.
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Wilson, A., Graven, S. 79 AN ANALYSIS CF EARLY MATERNAL ATTACHMENT BEHAVIOR. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 377 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00084
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00084