The relationship between multi-dimensional self-compassion and fetal-maternal attachment in prenatal period in referred women to Mashhad Health Center

BACKGROUND: Multi-dimensional self-compassion is one of the important factors predicting fetal-maternal attachment which vary among different cultures and countries. So the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between multi-dimensional, self-compassion, and fetal-maternal attachment in the prenatal period. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried on 394 primigravida women to Mashhad Health Care Centers in with two stage sampling method (cluster-convenience) in the year 2014. Demographic/prenatal characteristics, multi-dimensional self-compassion (26Q) with five dimension (including self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation items, mindfulness, over-identified), and fatal-maternal attachment (21Q) were completed by the participants. The statistical analysis was performed with various statistical tests such as Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression using SPSS statistical software (version 14). RESULTS: Based on the findings, the mean (standard deviation) value for multi-dimensional self-compassion was 59.81 (6.4) and for fatal-maternal attachment was 81.63 (9.5). There was a positive correlation between fatal-maternal attachment and total self-compassion (P = 0.005, r = 0.30) and its dimension including self-kindness (P = 0.003, r = 0.24), self-judgment (P = 0.001, r = 0.18), common humanity (P = 0.004, r = 0.28), isolation items (P = 0.006, r = 0.17), mindfulness (P = 0.002, r = 0.15), over-identified (P = 0.001, r = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: There was a correlation between the multi-dimensional self-compassion and fetal-maternal attachment in pregnant women. Hence, educating people like caregivers by community health midwives regarding psychological problems in during pregnancy can be effective in early diagnosing and identifying such disorders.