Postpartum-Specific Anxiety and Maternal-Infant Bonding: A Predictive Validity Study amongst Italian Women.

The role of anxiety is unknown in relation to postpartum bonding, unlike the well-known detrimental effect that postpartum depression has on the relationship between a mother and child. This study investigates how anxiety affects mother-infant bonding after childbirth, comparing the Italian version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS-IT) with generalized measures of anxiety. Examining 324 non-randomly-selected participants responding to various scales, including the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), postpartum-specific anxiety scale (PSAS-IT), postpartum bonding questionnaire (PBQ), and baby care questionnaire (BCQ-2), initial results suggest a link between certain postpartum anxiety symptoms and attachment problems. Surprisingly, anxiety measured with the PSAS has no direct influence on attachment; however, it is a strong predictor of bonding, even when maternal age, general anxiety, and depression are taken into account, explaining 3% of the variance in scores (ß = 0.26, p < 0.001). This emphasizes the importance of early identification and intervention of postpartum anxiety in promoting bonding between mother and child.

Preterm Birth and Maternal Mood States: What Is the Impact on Bonding?

Preterm birth is a significant global health issue affecting millions of infants each year, with potential implications for their developmental outcomes. This study investigated the impact of preterm birth on maternal mood states during the early postpartum period and its subsequent effects on mother-infant bonding. Mothers of 90 preterm infants were involved in the assessment of maternal mood states, examined with the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire and the evaluation of mother-infant bonding, carried out through the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). Contrary to expectations, there was no significant correlation between preterm birth characteristics and maternal mood states. On the other hand, significant correlations emerged between specific maternal mood states and the quality of mother-child bonding. More specifically, regression analyses showed that feelings of tension, anger, and confusion experienced by the mother tend to negatively affect the quality of her bond with her child. These findings emphasize the crucial role of maternal mental well-being in shaping the mother-infant relationship in the early postpartum period. The study highlights the importance of identifying and addressing maternal mood disorders to promote positive mother-infant bonding and child development, further underlining the need for comprehensive support and interventions for mothers of preterm infants.