Psychological functioning of expectant parents after the prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly

Objectives. - Expectant parents go through a complex and multidimensional experience when the diagnosis of a fetal anomaly is disclosed. This experience incorporates a traumatogenic dimension, regardless of the degree of the illness. The present study aimed to explore the subjective experience of pregnant women and their partners after the disclosure of a fetal anomaly during pregnancy. Materials and methods. - Twelve heterosexual couples participated in this study. All couples received the diagnostic of a fetal anomaly during the third trimester of pregnancy and decided to continue pregnancy. Three to six weeks after the disclosure of the fetal anomaly pregnant women and expectant fathers completed a questionnaire booklet. Participants completed, among others, the French version of Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR - Brennan et al., 1998), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS - Spanier, 1976), WHOQOL-BREF (WHO, 1991), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS - Zigmond and Snaith, 1983) and Maternal/Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS/PAAS - Condon, 1993). Results. - Pregnant women obtained significantly higher scores than expectant fathers in parental prenatal attachment and anxiety. For pregnant women, avoidant adult attachment was associated with most of the psychological variables. Avoidant adult attachment was also important for psychological adjustment of expectant fathers but only in what concerns marital quality. Psychological distress and quality of life were negatively associated in both pregnant women and expectant fathers. Conclusions. - The use of adaptive strategies for affective regulation by both members of the couple after the diagnosis of a fetal anomaly is an important protection factor of individual and marital adjustment. Hence, perinatal health research must consider not only the pregnant women but also the expectant father, mainly in such specific situations as the prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly. The development of the present study will allow to better knowing protection and risk factors in what concerns psychological adjustment of expectant parents to the prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.