Factors associated with postpartum depression and abusive behavior in mothers with infants

Abstract

The outcome of this study suggests that excessive worrying related to postpartum depression, 'fear of being abusive', and bonding difficulty are primary predictors of child abuse. Postpartum depression was not a predictor for abusive behavior after exclusion of the impact of bonding difficulties on abusive behavior. Therefore, the correlation between postpartum depression and abusive behavior identified in previous reports may have been influenced by bonding difficulties.