The authors conducted prenatal interviews and behavior observation
sessions with 46 families in which the woman was pregnant. These families
were again interviewed and observed 7 days, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months
after the child was born. The authors found that the most significant
variable predicting the variance of maternal attachment was the length of
separation of mother and infant: less separation was associated with
greater attachment. The next most significant variable was birth
experience, followed in importance by the length of labor and prenatal
attitudes and expectations.Abstract Teaser