Anknytningsrepresentationer och upplevelser av social acceptans hos ensamstående kvinnor som planerar eller överväger att få barn, som väntar barn eller som har fått barn genom assisterad befruktning (donatorinsemination) - En pilotstudie

Sammanfattning: The main aim of this pilot study was to explore inner representations of attachment in single women in Sweden that were planning to have children, that were expecting children or that have had children on their own through assisted reproduction (donor insemination). Experiences of social acceptance regarding their choice to parent alone were also examined. The methods used were The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), the self report questionnaire: Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R) and questions to report experiences of social acceptance. Of the eleven women that participated, five (45,5 %) were classified with a secure/autonomous attachment pattern (F), five (45,5 %) were classified with a dismissive attachment pattern (Ds) and one (9 %) was classified with a preoccupied attachment pattern (E). Participants were classified as dismissive to a larger extent, and to a lower extent as secure/autonomous compared to normative data findings. No differences were found between the two groups (Ds and F) ECR-R-scores. All participants were scored high for role reversal with both their mothers and their fathers. All women reported high degrees of social acceptance regarding their choice to parent alone. Although the degrees of reported social acceptance tended to decrease as interactions with the society got more complex. Those with a secure attachment pattern (F) reported higher degrees of social acceptance than those with a dismissive attachment pattern (Ds). Degrees of insecurity in the women’s attachment representations could be associated with more vulnerability to social resistance and more reported difficulties, therefore there may be particular patterns of vulnerability in women who choose to parent alone, encompassing both their past attachment related experiences and their current thinking. In combination with experiences of social resistance regarding the choice to parent alone, these attachment patterns could increase the risk for stress in this particular group of parents. By expected legislative changes, the group of single-mothers-by-choice will most likely soon grow larger. Thus, higher awareness of possible sources of vulnerability and strength in these parents is motivated, in order to best support them in their transition to parenthood.