title: Birth-related, psychosocial, and emotional correlates of positive maternal-infant bonding in a cohort of first-time mothers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe the development of a shortened 10-item version of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (S-PBQ) and examine the relationship between birth-related, psychosocial, and emotional factors and maternal-infant bonding.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional interview study.
  
  
  METHODS
  women having their first baby in Pennsylvania, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  we interviewed 3005 women in their third trimester and at one month post partum who were enroled in the First Baby Study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  for the S-PBQ, we completed factor analysis and examined instrument properties. We examined the relationship between birth-related, psychosocial, and emotional factors and maternal-infant bonding using adjusted linear regression models. The S-PBQ demonstrated acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach׳s α=0.67). Analysis revealed a socio-economic bias such that women who were older, more educated, not living in poverty, and married reported lower bonding scores. Maternal-infant bonding was significantly negatively correlated with maternal stress, maternal pain, and post partum depression, and positively correlated with partner support with the infant, and social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For researchers who wish to measure maternal-infant bonding but are in need of a relatively short scale, the 10 item S-PBQ may be a useful alternative to the original version. However, it is important that researchers measuring maternal-infant bonding also investigate socio-economic bias in their studies and adjust for this effect as needed. Our results also indicate that clinicians should be aware of life stressors that may impact the maternal-infant relationship, in order that intervention may be provided to improved health outcomes for mothers, infants, and families.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, USA; College of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, USA. Electronic address: cxb935@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Cara Bicking
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kinsey
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, USA; College of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, USA.
authors.forename: Kesha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baptiste-Roberts
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Pennsylvania State University, USA.
authors.forename: Junjia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, USA; College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Pennsylvania State University, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kjerulff
mesh_terms: D001722:Birth Order / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011584:Psychology
keywords: Maternal–infant bonding; Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire; Reliability; Validity