Mother-infant bonding in Mexican women screened for perinatal depression

Alterations in mother-infant bonding (MIB) are often undetected and are more frequent in the presence of perinatal risk factors, affecting the long-term mental health of both mother and offspring.

The objective of the study is to compare MIB in Mexican women screened for perinatal depression (PD).

This was an analytical cross-sectional design. Prior informed consent and women aged 18-45 years were included. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Maternal Anxiety and Depression Scale (MAAS), and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) were applied. Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and multiple logistic regression were used.

143 women were included (24.5% with PD according to EPDS); 36.4% presented anxiety symptoms according to HADS. According to the MAAS, the most frequent MIB style was strong and healthy (57.3%), while those with PD (37.2%) presented a negative MIB style. In PBQ, 9.09% presented alterations in MIB style. The presence of alterations in MIB was a risk factor for developing PD (OR = 3.99; 95% CI: 1.130-14.125; p = 0.032).

Most women showed strong and healthy MIB, while those with alterations in MIB showed three times more risk for PD. Our findings suggest that risk factors for MIB alterations and/or PD should be identified to offer early treatment opportunities.