title: A WEB-BASED SURVEY OF MOTHER-INFANT BOND, ATTACHMENT EXPERIENCES, AND METACOGNITION IN POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS FOLLOWING CHILDBIRTH.
abstract: Postnatal depression is linked to adverse outcomes for parent and child, with metacognition and parenting experiences key variables in the development and maintenance of depression. The attachment between mother and infant is especially vulnerable to the effects of untreated postnatal depression. Despite high levels of reported postnatal stress symptoms, less attention has been given the relationship between attachment, metacognition, and postnatal traumatic symptoms in the context of birth trauma. This study tested several hypotheses regarding the relationships between recalled parenting experiences, metacognition, postnatal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression and perceptions of the mother-infant bond, confirming and extending upon metacognitive and mentalization theories.
  
  
  
  A Web-based, cross-sectional, self-report questionnaire design was employed in an analog sample of new mothers. Participants were 502 women recruited via open-access Web sites associated with birth organizations. Structural equation modeling was employed for the principal analysis.
  
  
  
  Metacognition fully mediated the relationship between recalled parenting experiences and postnatal psychological outcomes. Posttraumatic stress was indirectly associated with maternal perceptions of the bond, with this relationship mediated by depression.
  
  
  
  Metacognition may have a key role in postnatal psychological distress. Where postnatal depression or traumatic birth experiences are identified, screening for posttraumatic stress is strongly indicated.
authors.affiliation: Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, NHS Lanarkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patricia Taylor
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwannauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D000067489:Metacognition; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bindung; Eltern-Kind-Bindung; Metakognition; PTSD perinatal; SSPT périnatal; afectividad; attachement; attachment; lazos entre progenitor e infante; lien parent-bébé; meta cognición; metacognition; métacognition; parent-infant bonding; perinatal PTSD; perinatale PTBS; メタ認知; 依附; 周産期PTSD; 圍產期創傷後壓力疾患; 後設認知; 愛着; 父母與嬰兒的聯繫; 親と子の絆