Maternal depressive symptomatology and mother-infant bonding difficulties: the mediating role of brooding rumination

While the association between maternal depressive symptomatology and mother-infant bonding (MIB) difficulties is well established, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. This study innovatively investigates the mediating role of rumination (considering its two dimensions - brooding and reflection), a key cognitive process in depression that has been rarely explored in the postpartum period.

To compare rumination and MIB levels between mothers with and without depressive symptoms and assess whether maternal depressive symptomatology is associated with MIB difficulties, with rumination acting as a mediating factor.

A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 521 Portuguese mothers who had given birth within the previous 12 months. Participants completed an online questionnaire including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Ruminative Response Scale, and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire.

Mothers with clinically relevant depressive symptomatology (EPDS ≥13) reported greater MIB difficulties and higher levels of rumination. Mediation analysis revealed that depressive symptomatology was directly associated with MIB difficulties, but also indirectly through brooding rumination. In contrast, the reflection dimension showed no significant mediating effect.

By identifying brooding rumination as a key process in MIB difficulties, this study has the potential to inform the development of interventions for postpartum depression that go beyond the relief of maternal symptoms to promote additional positive family outcomes and prevent adverse child outcomes.