AI Article Synopsis

  • - The study investigates how maternal perinatal depression and anxiety affect the quality of early interactions between mothers and their infants, focusing on maternal sensitivity three months after childbirth.
  • - A group of 43 first-time mothers completed questionnaires assessing their mental health, parenting experiences, and infant temperament both during pregnancy and postpartum.
  • - Findings indicate that higher maternal anxiety during pregnancy negatively impacts maternal sensitivity, while positive experiences from a mother's childhood with her father can lead to better infant temperament outcomes.

Article Abstract

The quality of the early parent-infant relationship is crucial for the child's optimal development, and parental sensitivity plays a key role in early interactions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of maternal perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms on dyadic sensitivity at three months post-partum, also considering a large set of maternal and infant variables. At the third trimester of pregnancy (T1) and at three months postpartum (T2), 43 primiparous women filled in a set of questionnaires evaluating symptoms of depression (CES-D) or anxiety (STAI), the woman's parental bonding experiences (PBI), alexithymia (TAS-20), maternal attachment to the baby (PAI, MPAS) and the perceived social support (MSPSS). At T2 mothers also completed a questionnaire on infant temperament and took part in the CARE-Index videotaped procedure. Dyadic sensitivity was predicted by higher maternal trait anxiety scores in pregnancy. In addition, the mother's experience of being cared for by her father in childhood was predictive of her infant's lower compulsivity, while paternal overprotection predicted higher unresponsiveness. The results highlight the influence of perinatal maternal psychological well-being and maternal childhood experiences on the quality of the dyadic relationship. The results may be useful to foster mother-child adjustment during the perinatal period.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10002080PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054253DOI Listing

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