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01-04-2016 | Original Article

Investigating validity and reliability evidence for the maternal antenatal attachment scale in a sample of Italian women

Authors: Alessandra Busonera, Stefania Cataudella, Jessica Lampis, Marco Tommasi, Giulio Cesare Zavattini

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 2/2016

Abstract

This study focused on the development of the emotional tie of the expectant mother towards her unborn child and aimed to achieve structural and external validity evidence for an Italian version of the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS; Br J Med Psychol 66: 167–183, 1993). The MAAS was translated into Italian and was administered to a sample of 482 Italian expectant women (age 20–43 years), together with other questionnaires measuring maternal–fetal attachment, psychological well-being, and relational variables. The hypothesised relationships with external concurrent and predictive criteria were substantiated. Internal consistencies were adequate for the total scale and for one of the two subscales. Confirmatory factor analyses provided general support for an oblique two-factor model, with minor model misfit. Therefore, an exploratory factor analysis with oblimin rotation was performed. The findings suggested that some items may represent extraneous constructs. Implications for future research regarding the functioning of the instrument are addressed.

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Title: Investigating validity and reliability evidence for the maternal antenatal attachment scale in a sample of Italian women
Authors: Alessandra Busonera
Stefania Cataudella
Jessica Lampis
Marco Tommasi
Giulio Cesare Zavattini
Publication date: 01-04-2016
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0559-3

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Investigating validity and reliability evidence for the maternal antenatal attachment scale in a sample of Italian women

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