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

Nonnenmacher, Nora; Noe, Daniela; Ehrenthal, Johannes C.; Reck, Corinna

doi:10.1007/s00737-016-0648-y

Cited by 102 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The mediating role of depression symptoms in the association between anxious attachment style and infant‐focused anxiety bonding conforms with reliable observations that anxious attachment is more frequently associated with PPD symptoms than is the avoidant attachment style (Warfa, Harper, Nicolais, & Bhui, ). These findings also are in line with Nonnenmacher et al.’s () report, but differ from Chrzan‐Dętkoś and Łockiewicz (), who found an association between insecure attachment and EPDS, but not bonding. Further, consistent with a reported association between CR‐PTSD symptoms and avoidant attachment style (Ayers et al., ), our findings add a unique role for CR‐PTSD symptoms in the association between avoidant attachment style with cognitions of anger and rejection toward the infant.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Research on factors that influence parental, specifically maternal, emotions toward her infant has flourished in recent decades, with greater focus on psychiatric symptoms that negatively impact bonding. As the incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) ranges between 10 to 20% (Brockington, ; Brummelte & Galea, ), the influence of PPD on maternal behaviors in general (e.g., O'Hara & McCabe, ) and bonding in particular is one of the most researched topics (Brockington, Fraser, & Wilson, ; Loh & Vostanis, ; Nonnenmacher, Noe, Ehrenthal, & Reck, ), demonstrating that depressed mothers express greater hostility and less responsiveness toward their infant, and are more likely to neglect or abuse their infant (reviewed in O'Hara & McCabe, ). Childbirth‐related posttraumatic stress disorder (CR‐PTSD) occurs in 1 to 6% of births (Alcorn, O'Donovan, Patrick, Creedy, & Devilly, ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonnenmacher et al. () reported that women with dual/disorganized attachment had more bonding difficulties as compared to women with either secure or insecure attachment styles, mediated by depression. Similarly, Van Bussel, Spitz, and Demyttenaere () found weak correlations between secure and fearful attachment styles with impaired bonding measures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Postpartum Bonding Difficulties and Adult Attachment Styles: The Mediating Role of Postpartum Depression and Childbirth‐related PTSD

Hairston

Handelzalts

Assis

et al. 2018

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Despite decades of research demonstrating the role of adult attachment styles and early mother-infant bonding in parenting behaviors and maternal mental health, these constructs have seldom been studied together. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and specific bonding difficulties of mothers. In addition, as postpartum depression and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress symptoms have been associated with both constructs, we explored their possible mediation effect. One hundred fourteen mothers, 4 to 12 weeks' postpartum, completed a demographic questionnaire, the Adult Attachment Style Questionnaire (M. Mikulincer, V. Florian, & A. Tolmacz, 1990), the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (L.F. Brockington, C. Fraser, & D. Wilson, 2006), the Modified Perinatal Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (J.L. Callahan, S.E. Borja, & M.T. Hynan, 2006), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (J.L. Cox, G. Chapman, D. Murray, & P. Jones, 1996), using an online survey system. As predicted, insecure attachment styles were associated with bonding difficulties wherein anxious/ambivalent attachment was associated with greater infant-focused anxiety, mediated by postpartum depression but not childbirth-related PTSD symptoms. In contrast, greater avoidant attachment style was associated with greater rejection and anger, mediated by childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but not depression symptoms. The current study confirmed the association of different attachment styles with bonding as well as the mediating roles of childbirth-related PTSD and postpartum depression symptoms. Future psychological interventions may utilize such evidence to target interventions for bonding disorders in accordance with individual differences.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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confidence: 99%

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Postpartum Bonding Difficulties and Adult Attachment Styles: The Mediating Role of Postpartum Depression and Childbirth‐related PTSD

Hairston

Handelzalts

Assis

et al. 2018

Infant Mental Health Journal

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“…An APN working with a family directly after birth has the opportunity to observe signs of impaired bonding and begin assistance in promoting a positive bond. The APN must understand that "consistent attachments are crucial for the formation of close bonds to the infant" (p. 932) [29].…”

Section: Impact On Advanced Nursing Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal-Newborn Bonding Concept Analysis

Barker¹,

Daniels²,

O’Neal³

et al. 2017

Int J Nurs Clin Pract

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Maternal-newborn bonding is the complex process of attachment between a mother and newborn. The authors used the Walker and Avant methodology to conduct a concept analysis regarding maternalnewborn bonding as it relates to advanced practice nurse (APN), the patient, and health care. The attributes of maternal-newborn bonding include affection, association, attachment, and relationship. The consequences of maternal-newborn bonding include love, trust, protection, and maternal-child relationship. The APN must be able to recognize and understand the importance of maternal-newborn bonding to have anoptimal outcome for the patient. A model case, borderline case, and contrary case were discussed to provide an example of the maternal-newborn bonding concept. Discussion regarding empirical referents is also included. Maternal-Newborn Bonding Concept Analysis Publication History:Received: January 27, 2017 Accepted: April 04, 2017 Published: April 06, 2017 Keywords:Love, Maternal-newborn bond, Protection, Relationship, Trust Concept AnalysisOpen Access Description of ConceptMaternal-newborn bonding is a concept used throughout the obstetrical and pediatric fields, but not widely known amongst all clinicians. The connection made after birth directly affects both the mother and newborn physiologically, psychologically and emotionally. A strong bond formed between a mother and infant leads to positive outcomes and impacts the maternal child relationship through the lifespan. "The parent-infant bond provides a foundation for future adaptation, relationships, and mental health for children and adults" (p. 246) [1]. Difficulty forming a bond could lead to detrimental problems for the mother, child, society and the healthcare system.The maternal-newborn bond directly influences the healthcare system in a variety of ways. The initial bond that occurs between the mother and child after delivery can play a fundamental role in many physiological and psychological aspects. Physiological or psychological instability could potentially lead to a prolonged length of stay, a higher level of care and increased medical costs. A positive bond leads to a positive home life and good health. Good health could be directly related the mother providing basic needs and medical care for the child. As a result, the children have improved health, a decreased number of medical visits and decreased medical care costs throughout the lifespan. Inversely, a study described a situation of impaired maternal-newborn attachment, a bonding disorder can occur [2]. The impaired bond could lead to a decline in basic needs of the child being met and decrease in necessary medical care needed for healthy growth and development.The concept of maternal-newborn bonding also directly influences advanced practice nurses (APN). Understanding the concept can give the APN an inside view of the relationship that the mother and child have whether positive or negative. A positive maternal-newborn bond detected by the APN provides assurance that needs of the newborn are ...

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“…A mother's own attachment and quality of her own early family relationships may also be important in understanding the relationship between PND and parenting (7). This was further explored in two recent studies;, the first showing maternal depression mediated the relationship between maternal attachment style, as measured on the Attachment Style Interview, and the quality of the mother-infant bond (8). While the second study found a woman's own insecure attachment, measured using the Attachment Style Questionnaire in pregnancy, increased her risk of depression in the postpartum period (9).…”

Section: From Pregnancy To Early Childhoodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depression and parenting: the need for improved intervention models

Galbally

Lewis

2017

Current Opinion in Psychology

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Highlights Parental depression is associated with a variety of indicators of poorer quality parenting.  The established impact on parenting includes increased stress, negative behaviors and potentially a reduction in the quality of the parent-child relationship  Child developmental outcomes follow from both depression, parenting and their interaction.  Current treatments of depression have not yet been shown to reduce the impact of parental depression on parenting or child outcomes. Abstract:The impact of maternal depression on parenting is well established and there is a clear interaction between maternal depression and parenting that is predictive of child outcomes. The research on paternal depression is more limited but suggests the father's mental health may be an independent risk factor for both parenting and child outcomes. There is insufficient evidence that treatment of depression alone-be it through pharmacological or psychological interventions -is able to substantially reduce the impact of depression on child outcomes. The evidence of interventions aimed at parenting and/or child outcomes in the context of depression is limited and the findings that are available are mixed.

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

Cited by 102 publications

References 42 publications

Postpartum Bonding Difficulties and Adult Attachment Styles: The Mediating Role of Postpartum Depression and Childbirth‐related PTSD

Postpartum Bonding Difficulties and Adult Attachment Styles: The Mediating Role of Postpartum Depression and Childbirth‐related PTSD

Maternal-Newborn Bonding Concept Analysis

Depression and parenting: the need for improved intervention models

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