The prediction of perceived parenting style on mother-infant bonding

Abstract

Background: There are limited studies on the associations among parenting style, postpartum depression, and mother-infant bonding.

Objective: The aims of this study are investigating how the parenting style of maternal grandparents predicted the mothers' bonding with their infants. The mediating roles of postpartum depression were also explored.

Participants and setting: A community sample of 227 postpartum women participated in this study. The participants primarily consisted of women who gave birth within six months (89.9%).

Methods: A cross-sectional and convenient sampling strategy was applied. Instruments were Parental Bonding Instrument, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, and Background Form.

Results: In the young infant group (i.e. mothers with infants not older than three months), the results indicated that maternal protection could predict "impaired bonding" (β = 0.20, p < .05). This prediction was mediated by postpartum depression (β = 0.32, p < .001). In the older infant group, paternal and maternal care could directly predict "rejection and anger" (β = -0.20, -0.22 respectively, p < .05). Maternal protection could predict three bonding factors (β = 0.25-0.29, p < .05, 0.01). Postpartum depression acted as total mediator for "impaired bonding"(β = 0.45, p <. 001), and acted as partial mediators in "rejection and anger" and "anxiety about care" (β = 0.45, 0.28, ps < .001, .01).

Conclusions: Perceived parenting style (especially maternal protection) has impacts on adverse mother-infant bonding. Furthermore, the impact is more prominent on mothers of older infants. "Rejection and anger" could be the most vulnerable bonding factor affected by parenting style. Since postpartum depression mediates the predictions, interventions could concurrently address maternal parenting style and postpartum depression.

Keywords: Caring situation; Maternal protection; Mother-infant bonding; Parenting style; Postpartum depression.