O'Dea, Gypsea, Hutchinson, Delyse, Youssef, George, Rossen, Larissa, Hagg, Lauryn, Booth, Anna, Davies, Sasha, Francis, Lauren, Mansour, Kayla, Smith, Imogene, Teague, Samantha, and Macdonald, Jacqui (2021) Maternal mental health and maternal-infant bonding in the postpartum period: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42 (5). pp. 345-346.

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The affective maternal-infant bond is critical for both maternal wellbeing and infant outcomes. Maternal mental health before, during and after pregnancy is widely thought to be associated with postnatal bonding. However, despite significant research in this area, the overall strength and direction of the relationship between maternal-infant bonding and maternal mental health is not clear, potentially impacting early diagnosis and treatment of both presentations. AIM of the study: Our aim was to systematically review and synthesise literature and meta-analyse associations between self-reported maternal-infant bonding in the postpartum period, and maternal depression, anxiety, and stress. MATERIAL and METHODS: The databases PsycINFO, Medline Complete, CINAHL, Embase, OATD, and ProQuest DTG were searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature. Studies were included if they reported on self-reported maternal-infant bonding in the postpartum period and an association with maternal mental health at any time point. Case studies, intervention studies without a control group, and qualitative studies were excluded. RESULTS: Our search returned 5646 articles, of which 134 articles (117 studies) met inclusion criteria. Twelve distinct scales of self-reported maternal-infant bonding were used in the included studies, reporting total bonding scores as well as subscale scores assessing distinct facets of bonding, including anxiety about care, rejection, and quality of attachment. Preliminary results are in line with expectations that mental health problems are correlated with poorer mother-infant bonding. Included longitudinal analyses indicate that pre- conception maternal mental health problems, as early as adolescence, may be predictive of poor bonding. CONCLUSIONS: Meta-analytic results provide the first aggregate effect sizes estimating relationships between common maternal mental health presentations and self-reported mother-infant bonding. Increased mental health problems are associated with poorer mother-infant bonding from preconception, through pregnancy, and the first postnatal year. Mothers reporting a preconception history of mental health problems are at increased risk of postnatal bonding problems, providing opportunities for early identification, assessment and treatment.

Item ID:	83635
Item Type:	Article (Abstract)
ISSN:	1097-0355
Additional Information:	Presented at the World Association for Infant Mental Health 17th World Congress, June 22-26, 2021 Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2024 00:34
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