PTSD and the Mother-Infant Relationship During the Perinatal Period: A Scoping Review

Associations between perinatal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the mother-infant relationship are increasingly recognized as a serious concern with implications for maternal and infant health; however, the existing body of literature has yet to be systematically mapped, leaving questions about current gaps and areas for future research.

Studies that included pregnant and/or postpartum (i.e., up to 12 months following delivery) individuals who reported PTSD symptoms and/or diagnosis and were assessed for at least 1 mother-infant relationship outcome during the perinatal period were considered eligible. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Google Scholar was conducted. The search included studies published in English at any time before January 2024. Data extraction was performed using a standardized form developed and tested by the research team. Finally, data were summarized to address the review's research questions.

The 57 included studies examined the relationship between PTSD and at least 1 dyadic process related to the mother-infant relationship during the perinatal period. Studies originated primarily from the United States, used quantitative, cross-sectional, nonexperimental methodologies, and sampled predominantly White and highly educated birthing persons. Most studies indicated an association between perinatal PTSD and the mother-infant relationship, such that women with more significant PTSD symptoms demonstrated greater mother-infant relationship difficulties.

Findings highlight the need for longitudinal, multimethod research that integrates diverse samples and culturally informed methodologies to enhance maternal-infant relationships and mitigate intergenerational trauma.