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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Maternal Perinatal Depression, Alexithymia, and Couple Functioning: Which Relationship Exists with Prenatal
Sonia Mangialavori1, Andrea Fontana2, Grazia Terrone3
1Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Background:
Prenatal attachment refers to the affective investment that parents develop towards their unborn baby during pregnancy. Studies have identified depressive symptoms, affect dysregulation, and poor marital adjustment as potential risk factors for poor prenatal attachment. However, no research has concurrently examined these factors. This study aims to explore the simultaneous impact of depressive symptomatology, alexithymia, and couple functioning on prenatal attachment to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping the emotional bond between expectant mothers and their fetuses.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study involved 344 women (mean age = 34.1, SD = 4.6) in their last trimester of pregnancy recruited from the National Health System. The participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale.
Results:
Regression analyses indicated that perinatal depression and alexithymia negatively affected the Quality of Prenatal Attachment, while Dyadic Cohesion served as a protective factor.
Conclusions:
The results emphasize the need for early identification of perinatal depression and alexithymia, along with targeted interventions aimed at supporting Dyadic Cohesion during pregnancy. These efforts are crucial for fostering positive prenatal attachment and enhancing maternal mental health.
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