Early loss of parents and early rearing experience among women with antenatal depression

Abstract

The relationship of depressive disorders with early parental losses and rearing experiences was studied among 120 pregnant women. They were diagnosed following the Research Diagnostic Criteria using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Loss experience was defined either as loss of a parent before the age of 16 by death, or separation for 12 months or longer. The perceived rearing experience was examined by administering the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). An onset of depressive disorders, antenatal depression, was observed among 19 (16%) women. Those women with antenatal depression were significantly more likely to have experienced bereavement of either of the parents (21%) than those women without it (5%). Discriminant function analysis revealed that two PBI scores, lower paternal care and higher maternal protection, were significant in predicting antenatal depression. Parental bereavement and 'affectionless control' (low care and overprotection) seem to be additive in predisposing to antenatal depression, though the small number of the samples render statistical analysis impracticable.