title: Association between parental depressive symptoms and impaired bonding with the infant.
abstract: Impaired bonding with the infant is associated with maternal postpartum depression but has not been investigated extensively in fathers. The primary study aim was to evaluate associations between maternal and paternal depressive symptoms and impaired bonding with their infant. A secondary aim was to determine the associations between parents' marital problems and impaired bonding with the infant. The study is part of a population-based cohort project (UPPSAT) in Uppsala, Sweden. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire at 6 months postpartum were completed by 727 couples. The prevalence of impaired bonding was highest among couples in which both spouses had depressive symptoms. Impaired bonding was associated with higher EPDS scores in both mothers and fathers, as well as with experiencing a deteriorated marital relationship. The association between maternal and paternal impaired bonding and the mothers' and fathers' EPDS scores remained significant even after adjustment for relevant confounding factors. Depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum are associated with impaired bonding with the infant at 6 months postpartum for both mothers and fathers. It is critical to screen for and prevent depressive symptoms in both parents during early parenthood.
authors: Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västmanland County Hospital, S-721 89, Västerås, Sweden. birgitta.kerstis@ltv.se.|Departments of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. birgitta.kerstis@ltv.se.
authors: Birgitta
authors: B
authors: Kerstis
authors: Departments of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Aarts
authors: Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Carin
authors: C
authors: Tillman
authors: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Persson
authors: Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Engström
authors: Departments of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Birgitta
authors: B
authors: Edlund
authors: Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västmanland County Hospital, S-721 89, Västerås, Sweden.|Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Öhrvik
authors: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Sylvén
authors: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Alkistis
authors: A
authors: Skalkidou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009769:Object Attachment; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Bonding; Depressive symptoms; Fathers; Infant; Mothers; Relationship