Maternal depressive symptoms have a negative impact on prenatal attachment – findings from a Swedish community sample

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate attachment and its association to obstetric and demographic factors as well as emotional well-being using a standard measure of prenatal attachment during pregnancy. Background: The strength of the mothers' relationship with her baby has important implications in the postnatal period, influencing the relationship she develops with her child, and the quality of the care she provides. Methods: This was a population-based longitudinal survey comprising a consecutive sample from a one-year cohort in a Swedish county. In this study the three subscales of PAI-R (Prenatal Attachment Inventory -Revised) were used for evaluation of attachment. In total, 718 pregnant women participated in this study. Results: Women with elevated levels of depression (HADS-D > 8) recorded lower attachment scores across all three PAI-R subscales. Lack of perceived support from partner was associated with lower scores on Interaction. Lack of support from own mother and own father were also associated with lower scores on all subscales. Attachment was also associated with feelings about the approaching birth and about the first weeks with the newborn, with women who reported less than positive feelings recording lower scores on each of the PAI-R subscales. Conclusion: A focus on attachment during antenatal care and the use of PAI-R during pregnancy provides a means of identifying those women who show lower levels of attachment and possible emotional problems that may impact on emotional health and the birth process.

The role of maternal emotional states during pregnancy and early infancy on infant cortisol levels: A prospective study

“…This is because maternal prenatal anxiety symptoms are related to difficulties in establishing a mother-infant bond (Akbarzadeh, Rafiee, Asadi, & Zare, 2016) and to a higher incidence of difficult deliveries (Hernández-Martínez et al, 2011) in addition to being a risk factor for postnatal depression (Cirik et al, 2016). At the same time, mothers with subclinical levels of depression have less confidence in their maternal role (Lovejoy, Graczyk, O'Hare, & Neuman, 2000;Weinberg et al, 2001), leading to less effective bonding with their infant (Rubertsson, Pallant, Sydsjö, Haines, & Hildingsson, 2015). This whole network of relationships can exert a cumulative effect on the development of the child's HPA axis and, consequently, on their psychopathological development.…”

Posttraumatic stress symptoms following childbirth: associations with prenatal attachment in subsequent pregnancies

“…Prenatal attachment has been shown to be influenced by several factors such as maternal mental health. For example, depression predicted lower intensity, lack of normal intensification with increasing gestation, and more negative content of prenatal attachment (Alhusen et al 2012a;Hart and McMahon 2006;Hjelmstedt et al 2006;Rubertsson et al 2015). Similarly, trait anxiety was negatively related to prenatal attachment (Hart and McMahon 2006).…”

Impact of a peer virtual community on pregnant women's well‐being: A repeated‐measure and quasi‐experimental study

“…Higher frequency, more discomfort, and more severe effects of physical symptoms are correlated with higher pregnancy‐related depressive symptoms (Kamysheva, Wertheim, Skouteris, Paxton, & Milgrom, ). Consequently, the elevated levels of depression has a negative impact on the development of maternal–foetal attachment (Rubertsson, Pallant, Sydsjö, Haines, & Hildingsson, ).…”

“…Consequently, the elevated levels of depression has a negative impact on the development of maternal-foetal attachment (Rubertsson, Pallant, Sydsjö, Haines, & Hildingsson, 2015).…”