The association between prenatal maternal anxiety disorders and postpartum perceived and observed mother-infant relationship quality
Open accessAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Prenatal maternal anxiety disorders have been associated with adverse outcomes in offspring including emotional, behavioral and cognitive problems. There is limited understanding of the mechanisms underpinning these associations, although one possible candidate is an impaired mother-infant relationship. The authors investigated whether prenatal anxiety disorders were associated with poorer postpartum mother-infant relationship quality, measured by maternal self-reported bonding and observed mother-infant interactions. METHODS: A cohort of 454 pregnant women recruited from an inner-city maternity service in London (UK) were assessed for mental disorders using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and followed up at mid-pregnancy and 3-months postpartum. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and mid-pregnancy (using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). At three months postpartum, women were assessed for self-reported bonding difficulties (using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire) and a subsample (n = 204) participated in video-recorded mother-infant interaction, coded using the Child-Adult Relationship Experimental Index by an independent rater. RESULTS: Prenatal anxiety disorders were associated with higher perceived bonding impairment, but not associated with observed poor mother-infant interaction quality. Higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with lower maternal sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions for anxiety disorders in the perinatal period could be tailored to address anxieties about mother-infant relationship and co-morbid depressive symptoms.
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Subjective feelings of connection may be more closely linked to internalizing symptomatology, and the associations might not be observed using observational, expert-coded dyadic bond.
“Subjective feelings of connection may be more closely linked to internalizing symptomatology and our associations might not be observed using observational, expert-coded dyadic bond (e.g., Nath et al. 2019).”
From Longitudinal associations between prenatal internalizing symptoms and mindfulness traits with postnatal bonding difficulties. (2025) · cites this paper as Nath et al. 2019
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ResultDevelopmental implications of maternal antenatal anxiety mechanisms and approaches to intervention
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Self-citationPaternal bonding is influenced by prenatal paternal depression and trait-anxiety
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“The study also revealed that higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with lower maternal sensitivity [29].”
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“This is contrary to previous findings that anxious mothers are more likely to be uninvolved [23,50] However, postpartum anxiety, as assessed by the PSAS, does not appear to be associated with a mother’s ability to provide care for her child.”
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“Subjective feelings of connection may be more closely linked to internalizing symptomatology and our associations might not be observed using observational, expert-coded dyadic bond (e.g., Nath et al. 2019 ).”
Factors related to a disturbance in the mother-child bond and attachment
Díaz-Ogallar, M. A., Hernández‐Martínez, A., Abad, M. L., & Martínez‐Galiano, J. M. (2024) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2024.02.009 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Kolk, T. A., Nath, S., Howard, L. M., Pawlby, S. J., Estrin, G. L., & Trevillion, K. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.069 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citationChildbirth counseling by WhatsApp group to reduce the anxiety of primigravida
Sunarmi, A., Haksari, E. L., & Fitriahadi, E. (2022) · International journal of health & medical sciences · doi:10.21744/ijhms.v5n3.1905 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“The anxiety could interfere mother’s daily activities (Nath et al., 2019).”
BackgroundInfluentialParent-Child Relationships: A Shield Against Maternal Depression in the Midst of Household Chaos
Pan, B., Zhao, C., Gong, Y., Miao, J., Zhang, B., & Li, Y. (2024) · Psychology Research and Behavior Management · doi:10.2147/prbm.s456739 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Wang, S., Cai, Z., Gao, G., & Yan, S. (2024) · International Journal of General Medicine · doi:10.2147/ijgm.s445604 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“26 Our results are similar to those in other countries, 27–29 these insights call for future research to consider regional differences, potentially necessitating collaborative studies across different regions to gain a more comprehensive understanding and to verify the economic disparities brought…”
ResultNěmcová, H., Kuklová, M., Hrdličková, K., Hořáková, A., & Šebela, A. (2025) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-024-02308-1 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Women who experience anxiety during pregnancy are at higher risk for lower parenting self-efficacy [11], perceived impaired bonding [12], and postpartum symptoms of mental disorders [13–15].”
Hubungan Pengetahuan dengan Kecemasan Ibu Nifas dalam Merawat Bayi Baru Lahir
Syahrianti, S., Fitriyanti, W. O., Askrening, A., & Yanthi, D. (2020) · Health Information Jurnal Penelitian · doi:10.36990/hijp.v12i2.235 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“…dengan bayi mereka terganggu hal ini disebabkan adanya rasa kurang percaya diri dengan bayinya yang dipengaruhi oleh gejala depresi yang dialami (Nath et al., 2019; Newman, Judd, & Komiti, 2017) Wanita dengan tingkat kecemasan khusus kehamilan yang tinggi, termasuk ketakutan tentang melahirkan,…”
BackgroundInfluentialDatye, S., Smiljanić, M., Shetti, R. H., MacRae-Miller, A., van Teijlingen, E., Vinayakarao, L., Peters, E. M. J., Lebel, C. A., Tomfohr‐Madsen, L. M., Giesbrecht, G. F., et al. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1411761 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Cai, Q., Wang, H. X., Chen, D., Xu, W., Yang, R., & Xu, X. (2022) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062004 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Moreira, S. D. S., Manoel, B. D. M., Inácio, J. P. G., de Souza, C. G., Reis, A. C. C., Jorge, B. C., de Aquino, A. M., Scarano, W. R., Cardoso, C. A. L., & Arena, A. C. (2022) · Journal of Applied Toxicology · doi:10.1002/jat.4389 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Many epidemiological data have demonstrated the consequences of maternal depression on offspring development (Nath et al., 2019).”
BackgroundMenekşe, D., Suzan, Ö. K., & Cinar, N. D. (2024) · Biomédica · doi:10.7705/biomedica.7146 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Tanke, A., Tobe, H., Usui, Y., Yonezawa, K., Tahara‐Sasagawa, E., & Haruna, M. (2025) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2025.104379 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Petersson, M. Å., Israelsson, J., Persson, C. I., Hörberg, U., Wåhlin, I., & Massoudi, P. (2024) · Journal of Neonatal Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2024.08.005 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Moniri, M., Mirghafourvand, M., Meedya, S., & Ghanbari‐Homayi, S. (2024) · Nursing Open · doi:10.1002/nop2.70116 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“…(Grigoriadis et al. 2019), negative childbirth experience, poor mental health, perceived bonding impairment (Azimi, Fahami, and Mohamadirizi 2018; Nath et al. 2019), a reluctance to start breastfeeding (Horsley et al. 2019) and unfavourable growth and development of the newborn (Graham et al.…”
Díaz-Ogallar, M. A., Hernández‐Martínez, A., Abad, M. L., & Martínez‐Galiano, J. M. (2024) · Journal of Nursing Management · doi:10.1155/2024/6384511 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Bonding and parent‐child quality of interaction in parents with eating disorder: A scoping review
Martini, M. G., Yim, S. H., Eisler, I., Micali, N., & Schmidt, U. H. (2024) · European Eating Disorders Review · doi:10.1002/erv.3144 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
The impact of the early COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum
Bartmann, C., Kimmel, T., Dávidová, P., Kalok, M., Essel, C., Ahmed, F. B., McNeill, R. V., Wolfgang, T., Reif, A., Bahlmann, F., et al. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0310902 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Roberge, P., Vasiliadis, H., Chapdelaine, A., Battista, M., Beaulieu, M., Chomienne, M., Cumyn, A., Drapeau, M., Durand, C., Girard, A., et al. (2025) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-025-06636-3 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Maternal anxiety and depression also impact the mother-infant relationship [7].”
Wahyu, M. D., Zain, E., Watanabe, Y., Fukui, N., Hashijiri, K., Motegi, T., Ogawa, M., Egawa, J., Nishijima, K., & Someya, T. (2025) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2025.119763 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Youseflu, S., Bayat, Z., Amiri, F., & Mohebbi, P. (2020) · Preventive Care In Nursing and Midwifery Journal · doi:10.52547/pcnm.10.1.39 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Children of mothers with anxiety disorders are at risk of adverse childhood consequences, such as affective, emotional and behavioral problems, as well as cognitive problems [7].”
BackgroundKlauser, N., Müller, M., Zietlow, A., Nonnenmacher, N., Woll-Weber, C. F. J., Becker-Stoll, F., & Reck, C. (2023) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.048 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Righetti, P. L., Generali, I., Lobb, M. S., Righetti, A., Calvo, V., Bravaccio, C., & Ferrara, P. (2024) · QUADERNI DI GESTALT · doi:10.3280/qg2024-2oa18206 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Cárdenas, E. F., Jackson, M., Garon‐Bissonnette, J., Humphreys, K. L., & Kujawa, A. (2025) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/s13415-025-01286-0 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“For example, depressive symptoms in pregnancy may relate to perceptions but not necessarily observable indicators of bonding difficulties (Nath et al., 2019).”
Henderson, M., Wittkowski, A., Buston, K., Crawford, K., MacLachlan, A., McConnachie, A., McIntosh, E., Messow, C., Nixon, C., O’Brien, R., et al. (2025) · Public Health Research · doi:10.3310/kymt5407 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Song, C., Tang, J., Shi, Z., Tang, S., Wang, Z., Zhang, G., Liu, S., Chen, X., & Song, Y. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1699059 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Existing research has predominantly focused on specific populations such as pregnant and postpartum women, with a notable dearth of studies investigating the clinically significant group of MCH services users in MCH hospital (Lähdepuro et al., 2024; Nolvi et al., 2019; Nath et al., 2019).”
Unger, S., Weise, V., Mack, J. T., Göbel, A., Staudt, A., & Garthus‐Niegel, S. (2026) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-026-04788-9 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
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von Olberg, A. C., Weise, V., Mack, J. T., Weidner, K., & Garthus‐Niegel, S. (2025) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-025-07846-z · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Nath et al. [119] also reported that prenatal anxiety symptoms in mothers predict poorer postnatal mother-child bonding, but only when prenatal depression symptoms were not controlled for.”
Barbu, A. M., & Bengà, O. (2024) · Cognitie, Creier, Comportament · doi:10.24193/cbb.2024.28.10 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Midwifery and the Transition to Parenthood
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Rachmawati, A., & Yuliani, D. A. (2024) · Proceedings Series on Health & Medical Sciences · doi:10.30595/pshms.v5i.963
“The anxiety often associated with prenatal anxiety disorders is associated with poorer quality of the mother's relationship with her postpartum infant, measured by maternal self-reported bonding and observed mother-infant interactions (Nath et al., 2019).”
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Factors associated with excessive crying and its effect on mothers and infants: A literature review
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“…reports have shown differential effects of maternal depression and anxiety symptomatology in relation to maternal interactive behavior during the early post-natal period—including, for example, sensitivity, engagement, and affect (Dib et al. 2019; Nath et al. 2019; Riva Crugnola et al. 2016).”
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Anxiety Among Perinatal Women Living With HIV: A Global Scoping Review
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Positive Mental Health in the Perinatal Period: Biopsychosocial Factors and Intervention Strategies
Muslu, Ö. N. (2026) · Journal of Midwifery and Health Sciences · doi:10.62425/esbder.1686834
- Authors
- Nath, S., Pearson, R. M., Moran, P., Pawlby, S., Molyneaux, E., Challacombe, F. L., & Howard, L. M.
- Affiliations
- King's College London (GB)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Nath, Selina
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-12
- Volume
- 68
- Pages
- 102148
- ISSN
- 0887-6185 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2974041848
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 5.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health Research
- 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
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- maternal anxiety, postpartum bonding, mother-infant relationship, maternal sensitivity, postpartum depression, perinatal mental health, mother-infant interaction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Object Attachment, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Postpartum Period, Self Report
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