Associations between child development and women's attitudes to pregnancy and motherhood

Abstract

A woman's psychological state during pregnancy has been shown in previous research to be predictive of her adaptation to maternal functioning. Two hypotheses were examined: (a) women who have a negative attitude to pregnancy and motherhood have children who exhibit slower development at 2 years, compared with children of women who have more positive attitudes; (b) women with poor psychological health antenatally have children who exhibit slower development at 2 years, compared with children of women who have good psychological health antenatally. Three aspects of child development were assessed: cognitive, motor and behaviour, as measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. This prospective, longitudinal study recruited primiparous women in the last trimester of pregnancy, registered at seven health centres in socially deprived areas of Bristol City (N5436). Baseline data were collected antenatally, and postnatally at 6 weeks, 1 year and 2 years. Developmental assessments were administered at 1 and 2 years of age. Fifty-seven percent of women had planned their pregnancy. Using the EPDS, 25% scored above the cut-off (12/13) for risk of depression antenatally. Multivariable analyses found associations between advanced cognitive development and children whose mothers had been aware of the changes that motherhood might bring. Associations were also found between cognitive development and pregnant women who scored below the cut-off for risk of depression (EPDS,13). The effect sizes were small and could therefore be due to chance, but the associations were consistent.

Measurement of women’s prenatal attitudes towards maternity and pregnancy and analysis of their predictors

“…They can be simple or more complex, often filled with romantic ideas of what parenthood might be like (Pancer et al, 2000). It has been previously shown that there is an association between a woman's antenatal psychological state and her adaptation for maternal functioning (Coleman, Nelson, & Sundre, 1999;Deave, 2005). The theoretical part of this publication aims to describe maternal attitudes shaped in the prenatal period of the child's development.…”

“…The rise of prenatal psychology and reproductive psychology, however, has brought attention to the importance of formation of maternal attitudes, for the development of the mother-child relations during pregnancy and in the early neonatal period (DiPietro, Novak, Costigan, Atella, & Reusing, 2006;Bor, Brennan, Williams, Najman, & O'Callaghan, 2003;Kumar et al, 1984;BielawskaBatoro wicz, 1999BielawskaBatoro wicz, , 2006Kornas-Biela, 2009). Research shows that prenatal and postnatal attitudes of women towards pregnancy, motherhood and the child have an influence on the subsequent emotional and cognitive development of the child (Hutchinson et al, 2008;Deave, 2005). A negative attitude towards pregnancy and child care is correlated with later health and developmental problems of the child (Bor et al, 2003;Wilkins et al, 2004;Deave, 2005).…”

“…Research shows that prenatal and postnatal attitudes of women towards pregnancy, motherhood and the child have an influence on the subsequent emotional and cognitive development of the child (Hutchinson et al, 2008;Deave, 2005). A negative attitude towards pregnancy and child care is correlated with later health and developmental problems of the child (Bor et al, 2003;Wilkins et al, 2004;Deave, 2005). Moreover, women expressing more negative attitudes towards motherhood and pregnancy assess their children as more difficult (Kumar et al, 1984).…”

“…The notion of parenthood includes: an idea of oneself in the role of a parent, conception (initiation of pregnancy), pregnancy, giving birth to the child, its nurturing and upbringing (Adamczak, 1985). The ability of a woman to visualize herself as a mother is an essential part of the psychological process of preparation for parenthood (Deave, 2005). Research shows that there is a difference in this process between women who planned the pregnancy and those who had not.…”

“…Research shows that there is a difference in this process between women who planned the pregnancy and those who had not. It was more likely that women who had planned their pregnancy had more positive emotions with regards to pregnancy, and were more aware of the changes that it brings (Deave, 2005). Many authors would also stress that the quality and type of parental attitudes are influenced by various factors connected to: the cultural and social environment in which a person grows up; the heritage of the family of origin; individual features (e.g.…”