Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of depressive and anxiety symptoms on maternal bonding to the infant
2–3 months postpartum and the influence of the mother’s bonding to the infant during pregnancy and to her own caregiver during
her childhood on maternal bonding 2–3 months postpartum. This study originated from a community-based cohort study carried
out in rural Bangladesh. Trained staff collected data and administrated the questionnaires during the third trimester of pregnancy,
at childbirth and 2–3 months postpartum. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal
Depression Scale and the State Anxiety Inventory and the mother’s emotional bonding to the infant with the Postpartum Bonding
Questionnaire. The results showed that 11% of the women reported depressive symptoms, 35% anxiety symptoms, 3.4% both depressive
and anxiety symptoms and 51% neither depressive nor anxiety symptoms. Mothers with depressive symptoms were older, were poorer,
fewer were literate, reported more intimate partner violence and showed lower emotional bonding to their infants 2–3 months
postpartum compared to mentally well and anxious mothers. Approximately 11% of the mothers reported mild bonding disturbances
and nearly one third of them showed depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms and giving birth to a girl were negatively associated
to a mother’s emotional bonding to her infant, while maternal anxiety symptoms and high bonding to the foetus during pregnancy
were positively associated to the mother’s emotional bonding to the infant 2–3 months postpartum.
2–3 months postpartum and the influence of the mother’s bonding to the infant during pregnancy and to her own caregiver during
her childhood on maternal bonding 2–3 months postpartum. This study originated from a community-based cohort study carried
out in rural Bangladesh. Trained staff collected data and administrated the questionnaires during the third trimester of pregnancy,
at childbirth and 2–3 months postpartum. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal
Depression Scale and the State Anxiety Inventory and the mother’s emotional bonding to the infant with the Postpartum Bonding
Questionnaire. The results showed that 11% of the women reported depressive symptoms, 35% anxiety symptoms, 3.4% both depressive
and anxiety symptoms and 51% neither depressive nor anxiety symptoms. Mothers with depressive symptoms were older, were poorer,
fewer were literate, reported more intimate partner violence and showed lower emotional bonding to their infants 2–3 months
postpartum compared to mentally well and anxious mothers. Approximately 11% of the mothers reported mild bonding disturbances
and nearly one third of them showed depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms and giving birth to a girl were negatively associated
to a mother’s emotional bonding to her infant, while maternal anxiety symptoms and high bonding to the foetus during pregnancy
were positively associated to the mother’s emotional bonding to the infant 2–3 months postpartum.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s00737-011-0221-7
- Authors
- Maigun Edhborg, Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels allé 23, 23 300, 141 83 Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Hashima-E Nasreen, Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels allé 23, 23 300, 141 83 Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Zarina Nahar Kabir, Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels allé 23, 23 300, 141 83 Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1435-1102
- Print ISSN 1434-1816