Since disturbances in the mother-child bond increase the risk of negative consequences for child development, it is important to identify risk and protective factors for bonding as well as longitudinal associations. Previous research has used different bonding instruments during pregnancy and the postnatal phase, leading to inconsistent results. In the current study, the same instrument was used during the various phases. In a large, community-based sample (N = 793), general information, feelings of pre-and postnatal bonding (Pre-and Postnatal Bonding Scale), depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and partner support (subscale Tilburg Pregnancy/Postnatal Distress Scale) were measured at both 32 weeks of pregnancy and 8 months postnatally. Partner support was found to be a protective factor for suboptimal pre-and postnatal bonding, as was the engagement with fetal movements for prenatal bonding. High maternal educational level was a risk factor for suboptimal prenatal bonding, as were depressive symptoms for suboptimal postnatal bonding. The associations between most prenatal determinants and postnatal bonding were mediated by prenatal bonding, which underlines the importance of promoting prenatal bonding. Professionals in clinical practice should be aware of partner support, engagement with fetal movements, and postnatal depressive symptoms: All these factors offer opportunities for improving the bonding processes. K E Y W O R D S mediation, postnatal bonding, Pre-and Postnatal Bonding Scale (PPBS), prenatal bonding, risk factors, protective factors
RESUMENDado que las perturbaciones en la unión afectiva entre madre y niño aumentan el riesgo de consecuencias negativas para el desarrollo del niño, es importante identificar los factores de riesgo y de protección de la unión afectiva, así como también las asociaciones longitudinales. La investigación anterior ha utilizado diferentes instrumentos para la unión afectiva durante el embarazo y la fase postnatal, lo que ha llevado a resultados inconsistentes. En el presente estudio, el mismo instrumento se usó durante las diferentes fases. En un grupo muestra grande con base comunitaria (N = 793), se midieron, tanto a las 32 semanas del embarazo como a los ocho meses después del nacimiento, la información general, los sentimientos sobre la 768 © 2019 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health Infant Ment Health J. 2019;40:768-785. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/imhj menant à des résultats n'étant pas uniformes. Dans cette étude, le même instrument a été utilisé durant les phases multiples. Chez un grand échantillon représentatif de la communauté (N = 793), les renseignements généraux, les sentiments de lien pré-et postnatal (Echelle Pré-et Postnatale) les symptômes dépressifs (Echelle de Dépression Postnatale d'Edinbourg) et le soutien du conjoint (sous-échelle de grossesse Tilburg/Echelle de Détresse Postnatale) ont été mesurés à la fois à 32 semaines de grossesse et à huit mois postnatalement. Le soutien du conjoint s'est avéré être une facteur ...
