Perceived parenting before adolescence and parity have direct and indirect effects via depression and anxiety on maternal-infant bonding in the perinatal period

Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed towards detecting how perceived parenting practices before adolescence affect maternal-infant bonding in the perinatal period, considering factors such as depression, anxiety, and parity.

Methods: We used the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) to examine perceived parenting practices. Participants included 1301 pregnant women who completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) at three time points: early pregnancy (approximately 12-15 weeks), late pregnancy (approximately 30-34 weeks) and postpartum (4 weeks after childbirth). We performed a path analysis with factors including parity, PBI subscales (paternal care, paternal overprotection, maternal care and maternal overprotection), HADS and MIBS.

Results: Perceived paternal or maternal low care parenting predicted higher HADS and MIBS scores in early pregnancy. Moreover, perceived maternal low care parenting predicted higher HADS scores at postpartum and higher MIBS scores in late pregnancy. Perceived paternal or maternal overprotective parenting predicted higher HADS scores in the pregnancy period. Furthermore, perceived maternal overprotective parenting predicted higher MIBS scores in late pregnancy. Being primipara predicted higher HADS scores at postpartum and higher MIBS scores in early pregnancy and at postpartum. Being multipara predicted higher MIBS scores in late pregnancy.

Conclusion: This study suggests that perceived negative parenting before adolescence has indirect effects (via anxiety and depression) and direct effects on maternal-infant bonding in the perinatal period.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; maternal-infant bonding; parity; perceived negative parenting; perinatal period.