Lina Maria Matthies1, Mitho Müller2, Anne Doster3, Christof Sohn4, Markus Wallwiener4, Corinna Reck2, Stephanie Wallwiener4. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Universitätsfrauenklinik Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. LinaMaria.Matthies@med.uni-heidelberg.de. 2. Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802, Munich, Germany. 3. Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Universitätsfrauenklinik Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Maternal mental disorders develop frequently during the perinatal period, and can have detrimental effects on the developing bond between a mother and her child. While depression has already been widely associated with bonding disorders, the link between anxiety disorders and maternal-fetal attachment has received only limited attention. This study aimed to explore the link between maternal-fetal attachment in the third trimester and postpartum anxiety, as previous research has suggested a potentially protective association. Additionally, we hypothesized a mediating influence of postpartum bonding and partnership satisfaction as additional measurements of attachment capacity. METHODS: Self-report questionnaires assessing maternal-fetal attachment, postpartum bonding, anxiety, depression, and partnership quality were completed at three time points: third trimester (T1, N = 324), first week postpartum (T2, N = 249), and 4 months postpartum (T3, N = 166). Conditional process analyses were used to test for mediation. RESULTS: A statistically significant negative correlation of maternal-fetal attachment was found with maternal anxiety postpartum. Overall, the analyses supported the mediation hypothesis. There was a significant, indirect effect of maternal-fetal attachment during pregnancy on state anxiety in the first week postpartum, mediated through postpartum bonding quality and partnership satisfaction. All three variables together accounted for 18.25% (state anxiety) or 30.35% (trait anxiety) of the variance in postpartum anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that a close maternal-fetal attachment buffers postpartum symptoms of anxiety, partially mediated through postpartum bonding and partnership satisfaction. Therefore, strengthening the maternal-fetal attachment and the partnership during pregnancy has the potential to reduce maternal postpartum symptoms of anxiety.
PURPOSE: Maternal mental disorders develop frequently during the perinatal period, and can have detrimental effects on the developing bond between a mother and her child. While depression has already been widely associated with bonding disorders, the link between anxiety disorders and maternal-fetal attachment has received only limited attention. This study aimed to explore the link between maternal-fetal attachment in the third trimester and postpartum anxiety, as previous research has suggested a potentially protective association. Additionally, we hypothesized a mediating influence of postpartum bonding and partnership satisfaction as additional measurements of attachment capacity. METHODS: Self-report questionnaires assessing maternal-fetal attachment, postpartum bonding, anxiety, depression, and partnership quality were completed at three time points: third trimester (T1, N = 324), first week postpartum (T2, N = 249), and 4 months postpartum (T3, N = 166). Conditional process analyses were used to test for mediation. RESULTS: A statistically significant negative correlation of maternal-fetal attachment was found with maternal anxiety postpartum. Overall, the analyses supported the mediation hypothesis. There was a significant, indirect effect of maternal-fetal attachment during pregnancy on state anxiety in the first week postpartum, mediated through postpartum bonding quality and partnership satisfaction. All three variables together accounted for 18.25% (state anxiety) or 30.35% (trait anxiety) of the variance in postpartum anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that a close maternal-fetal attachment buffers postpartum symptoms of anxiety, partially mediated through postpartum bonding and partnership satisfaction. Therefore, strengthening the maternal-fetal attachment and the partnership during pregnancy has the potential to reduce maternal postpartum symptoms of anxiety.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anxiety; Attachment; Bonding; Depression; Perinatal period
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