The psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) were examined in this study. Our primary aim was to investigate the validity and reliability of the MAAS; additionally, we analyzed prenatal attachment in regard to socio-demographic determinants, characteristics of actual pregnancy, as well as the mothers' mental health during pregnancy and partnership adjustment.

This quantitative study was conducted in Hungarian health institutions involving 253 women within different stages of their pregnancy.

Participants' responses were assessed using the MAAS, the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

The Hungarian version of the MAAS has stable psychometric properties, high internal consistency and good internal and external reliability regarding the MAAS Total score, as well as its two subscales, the Quality of maternal prenatal attachment and the Intensity of preoccupation. Our results confirm that the development of mother-foetus attachment shows a positive association with the plannedness and wantedness of pregnancy from both maternal and paternal side, the number of gestational weeks and the level of partnership adjustment as well; furthermore, negative correlation was found with maternal depression and anxiety level during pregnancy.

According to the results of our study, it can be stated that the Hungarian version of the MAAS is a reliable and valid measure of the maternal prenatal attachment from an early stage of the pregnancy.