Postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms and mother-infant bonding: A population-based cross-sectional study

Postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms are associated with negative outcomes for women's mental health and may disrupt the development of the mother-infant bond. However, previous research has reported inconsistent findings. The aim was to examine the predictive role of postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms on mother-infant bonding 6 to 12 weeks after birth in a population-based sample.

This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 and included 598 women 6 to 12 weeks postpartum. Postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms were measured using the City Birth Trauma Scale, and mother-infant bonding was assessed with the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between post-traumatic stress symptoms and mother-infant bonding, adjusting for maternal age, parity, mode of birth, educational level, and depressive symptoms.

The mean score on the City Birth Trauma Scale was 8.4, and 5.5 on the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire. A total of 1.5 % of participants scored above the cut-off for significant bonding difficulties. Higher levels of postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms were significantly associated with greater bonding difficulties (B = 0.380, p < 0.005). This association remained significant after adjustment for background variables and depressive symptoms (B = 0.113, p = 0.007). Primiparity, higher educational attainment, and depressive symptoms were also significantly associated with bonding difficulties (p < 0.05).

The findings suggest that postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms negatively affect the development of the mother-infant bond. A targeted screening of post-traumatic stress symptoms and bonding difficulties is recommended, followed by appropriate support in postpartum care.