Alexithymia and Fetal Attachment in Expectant Fathers

Year 2023, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 123 - 128, 11.08.2023

Duygu Güleç Şatır , Oya Kavlak

https://doi.org/10.58252/artukluder.1293993

Cited By: 1

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Father, Paternal attachment, Alexithymia, Fetus, Pregnancy

Bebek Bekleyen Baba Adaylarında Aleksitimi ve Fetal Bağlanma

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Baba, Paternal bağlanma, Aleksitimi, Fetüs, Gebelik

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