Psychofunctional symptoms in infants of young mothers: Association with maternal mental health and parental bonding.

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of psychofunctional symptoms (PFS) in infants of young mothers from southern Brazil and to examine the association of those symptoms with indicators of maternal mental health and maternal perception of marital adjustment, family support, and quality of parental bonding.

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study of descriptive and correlational nature was conducted using a convenience sample of 71 young mother-infant dyads. The following instruments were administered: Sociodemographic Data and Clinical Data Forms, Symptom Check-List (SCL), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (MINI-Plus), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and Perception of Family Support Inventory (IPSF). Spearman and Kruskal-Wallis correlation analyses and multiple linear regression were performed to identify explanatory variables of PFS in infants.

Results: 39.4% of infants had some PFS, and those related to behavior were most prevalent (e.g. fear, separation anxiety). Maternal depressive symptoms (EPDS; -0.74) and perception of quality of paternal care (PBI; -0.29) explained that type of symptom in infants (adjusted R = 0.15; p < 0.05). In regression analysis, major depressive episode (MINI-Plus) and depressive symptoms (BDI-II) were explanatory variables of feeding (2.19; adjusted R = 0.06; p < 0.05) (e.g., do not accept certain food types) and digestion symptoms (0.04; adjusted R = 0.05; p < 0.01) (e.g., diarrhea or constipation). Finally, perception of quality of maternal care explained allergy symptoms (-0.06; adjusted R = 0.12; p < 0.05) (e.g. rhinitis, certain foods).

Conclusion: A comprehensive assessment of physical symptoms in infants of young mothers is needed, focusing on maternal mental health, especially depression, and family relationships.