Correlates of impaired mother-infant bonding in a partial hospital program for perinatal women

Laura E Sockol1, Cynthia L Battle, Margaret Howard

  • 1Williams College, Williamstown, MA, USA, Laura.E.Sockol@williams.edu.

Maternal psychopathology is a risk factor for impaired mother-infant bonding, but not all women with this illness experience impaired bonding. This study investigated correlates of mother-infant bonding among 180 postpartum women treated in a psychiatric partial hospitalization program. Women completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding, and a retrospective chart review assessed demographic characteristics, clinician-rated diagnoses, and obstetric factors. Symptoms of depression, self-reported suicidality, demographic characteristics, and mode of delivery were significantly associated with impaired bonding.

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