Mother-child bonding at 1 year; associations with symptoms of postnatal depression and bonding in the first few weeks
Abstract
Some mothers experience neutral or negative feelings toward their new infant. This study examined the association between symptoms of postnatal depression and mother-infant bonding and the persistence of these feelings over the first year. Bonding was assessed using the Mother-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBQ), at four times postnatal, "early weeks" (1-4 weeks), 9 weeks, 16 weeks and 1 year, in 50 depressed, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS) ≥13 at 4 weeks post natal, and 29 non-depressed mothers. A significant association between the EPDS score at 4 weeks and bonding score at 1-4 weeks, 9 weeks, and at 1 year postnatal, χ(2)(1) = 9.85, p < 0.01, 5.44, p < 0.05 and 5.21, p < 0.05, respectively, was found, with a trend at 16 weeks. There was a strong association between bonding in the early weeks and all later time points χ(2)(1) = 17.26, p < 0.001, 7.89, p < 0.01 and 13.69, p < 0.001, respectively. Regression showed early bonding rather than early depression was the major predictor of bonding at 1 year. Women who are depressed postnatally can fail to bond well with their baby and this can persist for a year. Early identification and intervention for poor bonding is indicated.
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Women who scored ⩾13 on the EPDS at week 4 were five times more likely to be experiencing poor bonding at the same time as women who scored <13 on the EPDS.
“women who scored ⩾13 on the EPDS at week 4 were five times more likely to be experiencing poor bonding at the same time as women who scored <13 on the EPDS.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [34]
Maternal PPD seemed to be associated with poor maternal care, which influenced bonding difficulties and insecure attachments.
“Maternal PPD seemed to be associated with poor maternal care, which influenced bonding difficulties and insecure attachments.31,34”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [34]
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- Authors
- O’Higgins, M., Roberts, I. S. J., Glover, V., & Taylor, A.
- Affiliations
- Toronto Western Hospital (CA)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Taylor, Alyx
- Venue
- Archives of Women's Mental Health
- Published
- 2013-04-21
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 381-389
- ISSN
- 1434-1816 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-1102
- OpenAlex
- W2128567314
- Cited by
- 201
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 6
- FWCI
- 9.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Archives of Women s Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
- Keywords
- postpartum depression, mother-infant bonding, infant bonding, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, early postpartum period, longitudinal follow-up
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Depression, Emotions, Female, Humans, Infant, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Object Attachment, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Socioeconomic Factors, Time Factors, Case-Control Studies, Depression, Postpartum, Postpartum Period
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