Introduction: Although studies mostly focus on mothers, fathers also experience emotional problems and bond with their unborn babies in the antenatal period. The aim of this study is to examine alexithymia and fetal attachment in expectant fathers.
Methods: The study was carried out online via social media with 145 expectant fathers. Data were collected using Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale.
Results: The prevalence of alexithymia in expectant fathers was 24.8%. Alexithymia scores of university graduates had lower, while those with insufficient income and those who have two or more children were found to have less total attachment scores. A significant negative relationship was found between alexithymia scores and attachment scores.
Conclusion: Fathers with alexithymic characteristics tend to have less attachment to the fetus. Supporting fathers with alexithymic features may positively affect attachment to the fetus.
Sifneos PE. Short-term psychotherapy and emotional crisis, Harvard University Press, Cambridge 1972.
Moriguchi Y, Komaki G. Neuroimaging studies of alexithymia: physical, affective, and social perspectives. BioPsychoSoc Med. 2013;7(1):1-12. doi: 10.1186/1751-0759-7-8
Blanchard BE, Arena JG, Pallmeyer JP. Psychometric properties of a scale to measure Alexithymia. Psychother Psychosom. 1981;35(1):67-71. doi:10.1159/000287479
Hamaideh SH. Alexithymia among Jordanian university students: Its prevalence and correlates with depression, anxiety, stress, and demographics. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2018;54(2):274-280. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12234
Bakan AB, Aslan G, Aka P. An investigation of the effect of the psychoeducation program provided to alexithymic and violent adolescents on the level of alexithymia. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2020;33:169–179. doi: 10.1111/jcap.12285
Sampogna F, Puig L, Spuls P, Girolomoni G, Radtke MA, Kirby B. et al.. Prevalence of alexithymia in patients with psoriasis and its association with disease burden: a multicentre observational study. Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(5):1195-1203. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15243
Honkalampi K, Ruusunen A, Viinamäki H, Koivumaa-Honkanen H, Valkonen-Korhonen M, Lehto SM. Dietary patterns are associated with the prevalence of alexithymia. Scand J Psychol. 2017;58(4):318-323. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12370
Ng CS, Chan VC. Prevalence and associated factors of alexithymia among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Psychiatr Res. 2020;290:13126. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113126
Ipekci B, Turan N. Dysfunctional relationship beliefs as gendered predictors of alexithymia in Turkish cultural context. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. 2020 Dec 30. doi: 10.1080/03069885.2020.1860189
Kocatepe B, Bilgi S. Fatherhood as a social construction: the image of father in mothers’ life stories. Fe Dergi. 2018;10(2):42-59.
Ustunsoz A, Guvenc G, Akyuz A, Oflaz F. Comparison of maternal–and paternal–fetal attachment in Turkish couples. Midwifery. 2010;26(2):e1-e9. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2009.12.006
Trombetta T, Giordano M, Santoniccolo F, Vismara L, Della Vedova AM, Rollè L. Pre-natal attachment and parent-to-ınfant attachment: A systematic review. Front Psychol. 2021;17;12:664. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620942
Branjerdporn G, Meredith P, Strong J, Garcia J. Associations between maternal-foetal attachment and infant developmental outcomes: A systematic review. Matern Child Health J. 2017;21(3):540-553. doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-2138-2
Türkmen H, Güler S. Factors affecting intrauterine paternal-foetal attachment and the responsibility status of fathers concerning mothers and babies. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2021 April 1. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2021.1904506
Camarneiro APF, de Miranda Justo JMR. Prenatal attachment and sociodemographic and clinical factors in Portuguese couples. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2017;35(3):212-222. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2017.1297889
Lindstedt J, Korja R, Vilja S, Ahlqvist-Björkroth S. Fathers’ prenatal attachment representations and the quality of father–child interaction in infancy and toddlerhood. J Fam Psychol. 2021;35(4):478-488. doi: 10.1037/fam0000813
Barker B, Iles JE, Ramchandani PG. Fathers, fathering and child psychopathology. Curr Opin Psychol. 2017;15:87-92. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.02.015
Sümbüloğlu K, Sümbüloğlu V Biyoistatistik: Örnekleme, 12. Baskı, Hatiboğlu Yayınları, Ankara 2007.
Mattila AK, Ahola K, Honkonen T, Salminen JK, Huhtala H, Joukamaa M. Alexithymia and occupational burnout are strongly associated in working population. J Psychosom Res. 2007;62(6):657-665. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.01.002
Bagby RM, Parker JD, Taylor GJ. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):23-32. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(94)90005-1
Bagby RM, Taylor GJ, Parker JD. The Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--II. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):33-40. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(94)90006-x
Güleç H, Köse S, Güleç MY, Çitak S, Evren C, Borckardt J. et al. Reliability and factorial validity of the Turkish version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni. 2009;19(3):214–220.
Güleç H, Yenel A. Psychometric properties of the Turkish version 20 item Toronto Aiexithymia Scala: According to cut-off score. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi. 2010;13(3):108-112.
Condon JT. The assessment of antenatal emotional attachment: Development of a questionnaire instrument. Br J Med Psychol. 1993;66:167-83. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1993.tb01739.x
Güleç Şatır D, Kavlak O. Validity and reliability of Turkish version of paternal antenatal attachment questionnaire. Journal of Human Sciences. 2021;18(1):1-11. doi: 10.14687/jhs.v18i1.6047
Kim H. Statistical notes for clinical researchers: assessing normal distribution (2) using skewness and kurtosis. Restor Dent Endod. 2013;38:52-54. doi: 10.5395/rde.2013.38.1.52
Priel B, Besser A. Perceptions of early relationships during the transition to motherhood: the mediating role of social support. Infant Mental Health Journal. 2002; 23(4):343-360. doi: 10.1002/imhj.10021
Karukivi M, Tolvanen M, Karlsson H, Karlsson L. Alexithymia and postpartum anxiety and depression symptoms: a follow-up study in a pregnancy cohort. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;36(4):142-7. doi: 10.3109/0167482X.2015.1089228
Bottiroli S, Galli F, Viana M, Sances G, Tassorelli C. Traumatic experiences, stressful events, and alexithymia in chronic migraine with medication overuse. Front Psychol. 2018;14;9:704. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00704
Kokkonen P, Karvonen JT, Veijola J, Läksy K, Jokelainen J. Perceived and sociodemographic correlates of alexithymia in a population sample of young adults. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2001;42(6):471-476. doi: 10.1053/comp.2001.27892
Baldwin S, Malone M, Sandall J, Bick D. Mental health and wellbeing during the transition to fatherhood: a systematic review of first time fathers' experiences. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2018;16(11):2118-2191. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003773
Gilanifar M, Delavar MA. Alexıthymıa in pregnant women: Its relationship with depression. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;17(1):XX-XX.
Güler HK, Aydın FB. The effects of attachment styles and psychosociodemographic variables on alexithymia levels in adults. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences. 2020;17(2):98-116. doi: 10.5336/forensic.2019-71935
Fasihi R, Hasanzadeh R, Mahmoudi G. Correlation between attachment style and alexithymia in university students. J Hum Ins. 2019;3(2):45-49.
Obeid S, Haddad C, Akel M, Fares K, Salameh P, Hallit S. Factors associated with the adults' attachment styles in Lebanon: The role of alexithymia, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and emotional intelligence. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2019;55(4):607-617. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12379
Bebek Bekleyen Baba Adaylarında Aleksitimi ve Fetal Bağlanma
Year 2023,
Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 123 - 128, 11.08.2023
Giriş: Çalışmalar çoğunlukla annelere odaklansa da babalar da antenatal dönemde duygusal sorunlar yaşar ve doğmamış bebeklerine bağlanırlar. Bu çalışmanın amacı bebek bekleyen baba adaylarında aleksitimi ve fetal bağlanmanın incelenmesidir.
Yöntem: Çalışma sosyal medya aracılığıyla ulaşılan 145 baba adayı ile online yürütülmüştür. Veriler Toronto Aleksitimi Ölçeği-20 ve Paternal Antenatal Bağlanma Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır.
Bulgular: Aleksitimi prevalansı baba adaylarında %24.8 bulunmuştur. Üniversite mezunlarının aleksitimi puanları, yetersiz gelire sahip olan ve iki ve daha fazla çocuğu olanların bağlanma puanları daha düşük bulunmuştur. Aleksitimi puanları ile bağlanma puanları arasında negatif yönde anlamlı ilişki bulunmuştur.
Sonuç: Aleksitimik özelliklere sahip baba adayları fetüse daha az bağlanma duygusuna sahip bulunmuştur. Bu özelliğe sahip babaları desteklemek fetal bağlanmayı olumlu etkileyebilir.
Sifneos PE. Short-term psychotherapy and emotional crisis, Harvard University Press, Cambridge 1972.
Moriguchi Y, Komaki G. Neuroimaging studies of alexithymia: physical, affective, and social perspectives. BioPsychoSoc Med. 2013;7(1):1-12. doi: 10.1186/1751-0759-7-8
Blanchard BE, Arena JG, Pallmeyer JP. Psychometric properties of a scale to measure Alexithymia. Psychother Psychosom. 1981;35(1):67-71. doi:10.1159/000287479
Hamaideh SH. Alexithymia among Jordanian university students: Its prevalence and correlates with depression, anxiety, stress, and demographics. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2018;54(2):274-280. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12234
Bakan AB, Aslan G, Aka P. An investigation of the effect of the psychoeducation program provided to alexithymic and violent adolescents on the level of alexithymia. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2020;33:169–179. doi: 10.1111/jcap.12285
Sampogna F, Puig L, Spuls P, Girolomoni G, Radtke MA, Kirby B. et al.. Prevalence of alexithymia in patients with psoriasis and its association with disease burden: a multicentre observational study. Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(5):1195-1203. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15243
Honkalampi K, Ruusunen A, Viinamäki H, Koivumaa-Honkanen H, Valkonen-Korhonen M, Lehto SM. Dietary patterns are associated with the prevalence of alexithymia. Scand J Psychol. 2017;58(4):318-323. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12370
Ng CS, Chan VC. Prevalence and associated factors of alexithymia among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Psychiatr Res. 2020;290:13126. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113126
Ipekci B, Turan N. Dysfunctional relationship beliefs as gendered predictors of alexithymia in Turkish cultural context. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. 2020 Dec 30. doi: 10.1080/03069885.2020.1860189
Kocatepe B, Bilgi S. Fatherhood as a social construction: the image of father in mothers’ life stories. Fe Dergi. 2018;10(2):42-59.
Ustunsoz A, Guvenc G, Akyuz A, Oflaz F. Comparison of maternal–and paternal–fetal attachment in Turkish couples. Midwifery. 2010;26(2):e1-e9. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2009.12.006
Trombetta T, Giordano M, Santoniccolo F, Vismara L, Della Vedova AM, Rollè L. Pre-natal attachment and parent-to-ınfant attachment: A systematic review. Front Psychol. 2021;17;12:664. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620942
Branjerdporn G, Meredith P, Strong J, Garcia J. Associations between maternal-foetal attachment and infant developmental outcomes: A systematic review. Matern Child Health J. 2017;21(3):540-553. doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-2138-2
Türkmen H, Güler S. Factors affecting intrauterine paternal-foetal attachment and the responsibility status of fathers concerning mothers and babies. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2021 April 1. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2021.1904506
Camarneiro APF, de Miranda Justo JMR. Prenatal attachment and sociodemographic and clinical factors in Portuguese couples. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2017;35(3):212-222. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2017.1297889
Lindstedt J, Korja R, Vilja S, Ahlqvist-Björkroth S. Fathers’ prenatal attachment representations and the quality of father–child interaction in infancy and toddlerhood. J Fam Psychol. 2021;35(4):478-488. doi: 10.1037/fam0000813
Barker B, Iles JE, Ramchandani PG. Fathers, fathering and child psychopathology. Curr Opin Psychol. 2017;15:87-92. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.02.015
Sümbüloğlu K, Sümbüloğlu V Biyoistatistik: Örnekleme, 12. Baskı, Hatiboğlu Yayınları, Ankara 2007.
Mattila AK, Ahola K, Honkonen T, Salminen JK, Huhtala H, Joukamaa M. Alexithymia and occupational burnout are strongly associated in working population. J Psychosom Res. 2007;62(6):657-665. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.01.002
Bagby RM, Parker JD, Taylor GJ. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):23-32. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(94)90005-1
Bagby RM, Taylor GJ, Parker JD. The Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--II. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):33-40. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(94)90006-x
Güleç H, Köse S, Güleç MY, Çitak S, Evren C, Borckardt J. et al. Reliability and factorial validity of the Turkish version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni. 2009;19(3):214–220.
Güleç H, Yenel A. Psychometric properties of the Turkish version 20 item Toronto Aiexithymia Scala: According to cut-off score. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi. 2010;13(3):108-112.
Condon JT. The assessment of antenatal emotional attachment: Development of a questionnaire instrument. Br J Med Psychol. 1993;66:167-83. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1993.tb01739.x
Güleç Şatır D, Kavlak O. Validity and reliability of Turkish version of paternal antenatal attachment questionnaire. Journal of Human Sciences. 2021;18(1):1-11. doi: 10.14687/jhs.v18i1.6047
Kim H. Statistical notes for clinical researchers: assessing normal distribution (2) using skewness and kurtosis. Restor Dent Endod. 2013;38:52-54. doi: 10.5395/rde.2013.38.1.52
Priel B, Besser A. Perceptions of early relationships during the transition to motherhood: the mediating role of social support. Infant Mental Health Journal. 2002; 23(4):343-360. doi: 10.1002/imhj.10021
Karukivi M, Tolvanen M, Karlsson H, Karlsson L. Alexithymia and postpartum anxiety and depression symptoms: a follow-up study in a pregnancy cohort. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;36(4):142-7. doi: 10.3109/0167482X.2015.1089228
Bottiroli S, Galli F, Viana M, Sances G, Tassorelli C. Traumatic experiences, stressful events, and alexithymia in chronic migraine with medication overuse. Front Psychol. 2018;14;9:704. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00704
Kokkonen P, Karvonen JT, Veijola J, Läksy K, Jokelainen J. Perceived and sociodemographic correlates of alexithymia in a population sample of young adults. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2001;42(6):471-476. doi: 10.1053/comp.2001.27892
Baldwin S, Malone M, Sandall J, Bick D. Mental health and wellbeing during the transition to fatherhood: a systematic review of first time fathers' experiences. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2018;16(11):2118-2191. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003773
Gilanifar M, Delavar MA. Alexıthymıa in pregnant women: Its relationship with depression. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;17(1):XX-XX.
Güler HK, Aydın FB. The effects of attachment styles and psychosociodemographic variables on alexithymia levels in adults. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences. 2020;17(2):98-116. doi: 10.5336/forensic.2019-71935
Fasihi R, Hasanzadeh R, Mahmoudi G. Correlation between attachment style and alexithymia in university students. J Hum Ins. 2019;3(2):45-49.
Obeid S, Haddad C, Akel M, Fares K, Salameh P, Hallit S. Factors associated with the adults' attachment styles in Lebanon: The role of alexithymia, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and emotional intelligence. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2019;55(4):607-617. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12379
Güleç Şatır, D., & Kavlak, O. (2023). Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences, 3(2), 123-128. https://doi.org/10.58252/artukluder.1293993
AMA
Güleç Şatır D, Kavlak O. Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences. August 2023;3(2):123-128. doi:10.58252/artukluder.1293993
Chicago
Güleç Şatır, Duygu, and Oya Kavlak. “Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers”. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences 3, no. 2 (August 2023): 123-28. https://doi.org/10.58252/artukluder.1293993.
EndNote
Güleç Şatır D, Kavlak O (August 1, 2023) Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences 3 2 123–128.
IEEE
D. Güleç Şatır and O. Kavlak, “Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers”, Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 123–128, 2023, doi: 10.58252/artukluder.1293993.
ISNAD
Güleç Şatır, Duygu - Kavlak, Oya. “Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers”. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences 3/2 (August 2023), 123-128. https://doi.org/10.58252/artukluder.1293993.
JAMA
Güleç Şatır D, Kavlak O. Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences. 2023;3:123–128.
MLA
Güleç Şatır, Duygu and Oya Kavlak. “Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers”. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 3, no. 2, 2023, pp. 123-8, doi:10.58252/artukluder.1293993.
Vancouver
Güleç Şatır D, Kavlak O. Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers. Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences. 2023;3(2):123-8.