Associations Between Maternal-Fetal Bonding, Prenatal Psychopathology, and Infant Temperament

• In Event: Poster Session 08
  In Poster Session: PS 08 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

BACKGROUND Maternal-fetal bonding (MFB), or the extent in which pregnant women engage in behaviors that represent an interaction with their unborn child, has been found to predict later infant development and the mother-infant relationship (Cataudella et al., 2016; Cranley, 1981). Research has found that MFB can act as a risk or protective factor depending on the level of the bonding (Alhusen, 2008). Lower levels of MFB have been found to be predictive of health practices during pregnancy and neonatal well-being of the mother and child (Alhusen et al., 2012), whereas higher levels of MFB have been found to buffer postpartum symptoms of anxiety and strengthen partnership satisfaction (Matthies et al., 2020). With MFB, the majority of research has focused on the relationship with postpartum symptoms; meanwhile, very few have examined the possible relationship with prenatal symptoms of depression/anxiety, which have also been found to influence infant health and the postpartum mother-infant relationship (Dubber et al., 2015). Another factor that is important to overall infant health is infant temperament, or the individual differences in style of infant behavior (Wilson et al., 2000). Postpartum depression and anxiety have been found to be associated with later difficult temperament (Britton, 2011), but prenatal symptoms have not been examined. The limited research on the relationship between maternal-fetal bonding and temperament has found that poorer bonding during pregnancy was associated with more difficult temperaments, such as negative reactivity (Branjerdporn et al., 2017). The current study aims to address these gaps by examining whether maternal-fetal bonding moderates the relationship between prenatal anxiety and depression symptoms and infant temperament

METHODS Participants in the current study included 31 pregnant mothers and their infants at 16 weeks postpartum. Mothers completed surveys during pregnancy that assessed their anxiety symptoms (Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale; Somerville et al., 2014), depression symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; Cox et al., 1987), and maternal-fetal bonding (Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale; McFarland et al., 2011). Around four months postpartum, mothers answered a survey assessing their infant’s temperament (Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised; Rothbart & Gartstein, 2003).

RESULTS Multiple regression model results revealed a significant association of maternal-fetal bonding moderating the relationship between prenatal anxiety symptoms and infant temperament. More specifically, the interaction term between prenatal anxiety symptoms and maternal-fetal bonding was positively associated with infant negative reactivity (B=.002, SE=.001, p=.007; see Table 1). Follow-up simple slope analyses revealed high levels of maternal-fetal bonding were protective against infant negative reactivity, but only when prenatal anxiety was low (B=.060, SE=.016, t=3.842, p= .001; see Figure 1). Findings suggest prenatal anxiety is an important risk factor for infant negative reactivity, and that while high levels of maternal-fetal bonding can be protective among less anxious mothers, highly anxious mothers and mothers who reported low bonding maintained elevated risk for infant negative reactivity. It is possible findings could reflect a genetic component between maternal anxiety and infant negative reactivity. Still, maternal-fetal bonding may represent a modifiable protective factor, that for many women could help reduce the risk of difficult temperament.

Authors

• Ashley N Quigley, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
  Presenting Author

• Samantha Addante, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
  Non-Presenting Author

• Gina Erato, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kristin Fields, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lucia Ciciolla, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
  Non-Presenting Author

• Karina M. Shreffler, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  Non-Presenting Author