Postpartum bonding: the impact of maternal depression and adult attachment style

Maternal depression poses a risk for the developing mother-infant relationship. Similarly, maternal insecure attachment styles may limit the ability to adequately connect with the newborn during the postpartum period. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal depression and ins...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nonnenmacher, Nora (Author) , Noe, Daniela (Author) , Ehrenthal, Johannes C. (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 14 June 2016
In: Archives of women's mental health
Year: 2016, Volume: 19, Issue: 5, Pages: 927-935
ISSN:1435-1102
DOI:10.1007/s00737-016-0648-y
Online Access:Verlag, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0648-y
Verlag, Volltext: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00737-016-0648-y
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Author Notes:N. Nonnenmacher, D. Noe, J.C. Ehrenthal, C. Reck
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Summary:Maternal depression poses a risk for the developing mother-infant relationship. Similarly, maternal insecure attachment styles may limit the ability to adequately connect with the newborn during the postpartum period. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal depression and insecure attachment (insecure and dual/disorganized) on maternal bonding in a sample of n = 34 women with depression according to DSM-IV and n = 59 healthy women. Maternal depression was assessed 3 to 4 months postpartum with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), bonding with the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, and maternal attachment style with the Attachment Style Interview. Women with current and lifetime depression as well as women with dual/disorganized attachment style reported lower bonding. Explorative analysis revealed that depression partially mediated the link between dual/disorganized attachment style and bonding with a medium-sized mediation effect. The combination of maternal depression and dual/disorganized attachment style may pose a special risk constellation for the developing mother-infant bond that should be addressed in prevention and early intervention programs.
Item Description:Gesehen am 28.11.2017
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1435-1102
DOI:10.1007/s00737-016-0648-y