Prenatal coparenting and attachment style in Japanese pregnant women

What is it about?

Coparenting is a relationship focused on parenting, and it is important to develop coparenting during pregnancy in preparation for parenting immediately after childbirth. This study investigated the relationship between prenatal coparenting as perceived by pregnant women and their attachment style with data from 181 Japanese pregnant women who completed a self-reported questionnaire. Higher attachment avoidance toward parents and partners as rated by pregnant women was associated with lower prenatal coparenting. In addition, women’s higher attachment anxiety toward their partners was associated with lower prenatal coparenting. We also found that these results may differ depending on fetal birth order.

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Photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash

Photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Although coparenting has been much investigated as an important aspect of the postnatal family, knowledge of prenatal coparenting remains limited. Our findings have improved our understanding of families in the developmental process of prenatal coparenting. Further research could lead to specific recommendations to support the development of prenatal coparenting.