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Cited by 317Attachment and Relationship DynamicsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

The nature of the mother's tie to her infant: maternal bonding under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss

Feldman, Ruth, Weller, Aron, Leckman, James F., Kuint, Jacob, Eidelman, Arthur I.·1999·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1017/s0021963099004308
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Abstract

Attachment has generally been examined from the infant's perspective. We focused on mothers' post-partum thoughts and behaviors. Guided by an ethological approach, maternal bonding was examined under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss. Ninety-one mothers were interviewed: mothers of full-term infants who maintained continuous proximity to the infant, mothers of healthy premature infants who were separated from the infant, and mothers of very low birthweight infants who experienced potential loss and prolonged separation. Mothers of term infants reported medium-to-high levels of preoccupations with thoughts of infant safety and well-being. Preoccupations increased with separation (Group 2) and significantly decreased with impending loss (Group 3). Attachment behaviors and representations were the highest among mothers of term infants and declined linearly with the duration of mother-infant separation. Maternal trait anxiety and depression were related respectively to higher levels of preoccupations and reduced attachment behaviors and representations, independent of the infant medical condition and mother-child separation. Discussion focused on the comparability of maternal and infant attachment in relation to the neurobiological system underlying bond formation.

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  • The Worries factor used in this study is similar to one used in parenting research, describes a unique mental state in postpartum parents, and has been shown to correlate with parental oxytocin.

    “Consistent with perspectives suggesting that periods of parental and romantic bonding share underlying mechanisms, this factor is similar to the one used in parenting research, describes a unique mental state in parents during the postpartum period (Feldman et al., 1999; Leckman et al., 1999), and has shown to correlate with parental OT (Feldman et al., 2007).”

    From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Feldman et al., 1999

  • The early stages of parenting are accompanied by heightened sensitivity to infant cues and mental preoccupations and worries, which correlate with oxytocin and are essential for the parent's bond to the infant.

    “In addition, the early stages of parenting has shown to be accompanied by heightened sensitivity to infant cues and mental preoccupations and worries, which similarly correlate with OT (Feldman et al., 2007) and are essential for the formation of the parent’s bond to the infant (Feldman et al., 1999; Leckman et al., 1999).”

    From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Feldman et al., 1999

  • During the early postpartum period, increased levels of anxiety and worries in new parents, typically about their infant's safety and health, may include thoughts of reciprocity, unity and even idealised perfection of the infant, which may elevate anxiety levels.

    “During the early postpartum period, increased levels of anxiety and worries in new parents, typically about their infant’s safety and health, may include thoughts of reciprocity, unity and even idealised perfection of the infant, which may elevate anxiety levels (14–16).”

    From Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby‐Cry (2011) · cites this paper as [14]

  • Parental anxiety peaks immediately after childbirth and then begins to diminish during the first three to four months postpartum.

    “Indeed, parental anxiety peaks immediately after childbirth and then begins to diminish during the first three to four months postpartum (Feldman et al., 1999; Kim et al., 2013; Leckman et al., 1999).”

    From The maternal brain and its plasticity in humans (2016) · cites this paper as Feldman et al., 1999

  • Abnormally low levels of parental preoccupation, e.g. in postpartum depression, also pose difficulties in developing emotional bonds with the infant, and risk inadequate parenting.

    “Abnormally low levels of parental preoccupation, e.g. in postpartum depression also pose difficulties in developing emotional bonds with the infant, and risk inadequate parenting (Feldman et al., 2009; Feldman et al., 1999).”

    From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Feldman et al., 1999

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Authors
Feldman, R., Weller, A., Leckman, J. F., Kuint, J., & Eidelman, A. I.
Affiliations
  • Bar-Ilan University (IL)
  • Yale University (US)
  • Tel Aviv University (IL)
  • Shaare Zedek Medical Center (IL)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1999-09
Volume
40
Issue
6
Pages
929-939
ISSN
0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1017/s0021963099004308
OpenAlex
W2024240884
Cited by
317
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 19
FWCI
3.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1 (tdm, 5844 d)
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
maternal attachment, mother-infant bonding, maternal separation, preterm infants, very low birth weight infants, maternal anxiety, maternal depression, attachment representations, ethological approach, postpartum women, neurobiology of attachment
MeSH terms
Adult, Anxiety, Separation, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Male, Maternal Behavior, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Pregnancy, Infant, Very Low Birth Weight

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