Mother-To-Infant Bonding Disorder, but not Depression, 5 days After Delivery is a Risk Factor For Neonate Emotional Abuse: A Study in Japanese Mothers of 1-Month Olds

Abstract

Background: Despite its clinical and public policy-making importance, neonatal abuse has been only minimally studied. Purpose: To identify predictors of mothers’ emotional abuse towards their infants at 1 month after childbirth. Methods: We studied a cohort of 252 women at three time points: late pregnancy and 5 days and 1 month after childbirth. At each time point, the women were administered a set of questionnaires about their depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), bonding towards the foetus or neonate (Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale and Postnatal Bonding Questionnaire, respectively), and, at 1 month after childbirth, emotional abuse (Conflict Tactic Scale). Results: Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that neonatal emotional abuse was predicted by bonding difficulties at 5 days after childbirth but not by depression at that time point. Conclusion: Assessment for maternal bonding problems in the early post-natal period should be routinely performed by perinatal health professionals.