Unfolding of maternal-infant bonding amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Social support as a risk and protective factor.
Dev Psychopathol
; : 1-9, 2024 Apr 24.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38654408
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Social, familial, and physiological stressors may put maternal-infant bonding at risk. Therefore, it is plausible that the stressful conditions brought on by COVID-19 could influence maternal-infant bonding. This study aimed to elucidate the contribution of COVID-19-related experience to variance in maternal-infant bonding, beyond that of established risk factors and as moderated by social support.METHODS:
This longitudinal, multicenter study examined the relationship of demographic and obstetric variables, social support, postpartum depression, as well as COVID-19-related fear, exposure, and subjective difficulty with mother-infant bonding six months following birth. Participants (N = 246) were women who delivered during the pandemics' strict lockdown period and were recruited 10 weeks after a liveborn delivery and followed up six months later.RESULTS:
Relationship between fear of COVID-19 and maternal-infant bonding was moderated by social support Amongst mothers with high levels of social support, fear of COVID-19 negatively predicted bonding.DISCUSSION:
Results indicate that social support, while overall a protective factor for mother-infant bonding, may lose its buffering effect when fear of COVID-19 is high. This relationship was maintained even when early bonding experiences such as forced separation and the risk incurred by postpartum depression were accounted for. Implications for providers are discussed.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Dev Psychopathol
/
Dev. psychopathol
/
Development and psychopathology
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article