The expected child versus the actual child: implications for the mother–baby bond

Pearce, Helen; Ayers, Susan

doi:10.1080/0264683042000325528

Cited by 18 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Means for intrusions and avoidance were similar to research carried out in the same geographical area (6.8 for intrusions and 4.9 for avoidance; Ayers, 2001). Means for the couple's relationship and the mother-baby bond were similar to published norms (Spanier, 1976;Pearce & Ayers, 2005). Table 1 also shows correlations between variables measuring the parent-baby bond, birth experience, couple's relationship, and PTSD symptoms, for men and women.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 74%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder in couples after birth: association with the couple's relationship and parent–baby bond

Ayers

Wright

Wells

2007

Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 74%

“…Pearce & Ayers, 2005). In this study the wording was changed slightly to measure parent-baby bond, i.e.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder in couples after birth: association with the couple's relationship and parent–baby bond

Ayers

Wright

Wells

2007

Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology

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“…There is evidence that more positive or balanced prenatal representations of one's own mother (Ward & Carlson, 1995), the child‐to‐be (Dayton, Levondosky, Davidson, & Bogat, 2010; Flykt et al, 2009; Pearce & Ayers, 2005; Thun‐Hohenstein, Wienerroither, Schreuer, Seim, & Wienerroither, 2008), the self‐as‐mother, and the child's father (Coleman, Nelson, & Sundre, 1999) are important predictors of a more positive mother–infant relationship. The previous studies have not included the representations of the self‐as‐woman, and it thus is not possible to judge whether it would be a less salient predictor of mother–infant interaction quality than would other representational dimensions.…”

Section: Role Of Maternal Representationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clinicians regard both negative and idealized prenatal representations as potentially interfering with later mother–infant interaction quality, but empirical studies have failed to detect the harmful impact of extremely positive prenatal expectations on future parenthood (Coleman et al, 1999; Flykt et al, 2009; Pearce & Ayers, 2005). These studies, however, were conducted with low‐risk parents whereas the impact of prenatal representations may be different for high‐risk mothers.…”

Section: Role Of Maternal Representationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal representations and emotional availability among drug‐abusing and nonusing mothers and their infants

Flykt

Punamäki

Belt

et al. 2012

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Both negative and idealized maternal prenatal representations may constitute a risk for mother-infant interaction. This study analyzed the role of maternal prenatal representations and pre- to postnatal representational change in predicting mother-infant emotional availability (EA) among 51 drug-abusing mothers and their infants who participated in either psychodynamic group therapy (PGT) or received psychosocial support (PSS) and among 50 nonusing comparison dyads. Maternal representations of her child, the child's father, her own mother, self-as-mother, and self-as-woman were measured during pregnancy and at 4 and 12 months' postpartum with the Interview of Maternal Representations (M. Ammaniti et al., 1992; M. Ammaniti, R. Tambelli, & P. Perucchini, 1998). EA was measured with the Emotional Availability Scales, fourth edition (Z. Biringen, 2008) at 4 and 12 months. The results showed that drug-abusing mothers had more negative prenatal representations of the self-as-woman and of the child's father. Postnatally, PSS mothers tended to first idealize their child, but later to experience disillusionment of idealization. Both negative and idealized prenatal representations of the self-as-mother predicted mother-infant EA problems, but only among the PGT mothers. For all mothers, negative representational change was detrimental for the mother-infant EA whereas for drug-abusing mothers, also increasing idealization from the prenatal period to the postnatal period was harmful. Clinicians working with drug-abusing mothers should aim at supporting the development of a realistically positive view of motherhood.

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“…Participants were mailed self-report questionnaires focusing on several domains of postpartum functioning, including PTSD symptoms and bonding. Bonding was assessed using a modified version of the Bethlehem Mother–Infant Interaction Scale (Pearce & Ayers, 2005). The Bethlehem scale differs from the PBQ in that questions focus on maternal report of interactions with her baby, more so than her feelings of emotional connectedness to her infant.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mother–infant bonding impairment across the first 6 months postpartum: the primacy of psychopathology in women with childhood abuse and neglect histories

Muzik

Bocknek

Broderick

et al. 2012

Arch Womens Ment Health

235

162

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Purpose Our goal was to examine the trajectory of bonding impairment across the first 6 months postpartum in the contexts of maternal risk, including maternal history of childhood abuse and neglect and postpartum psychopathology, and to test the association between self-reported bonding impairment and observed positive parenting behaviors. Method In a sample of women with childhood abuse and neglect (CA) histories (CA+, n=97) and a healthy control comparison group (CA-, n=53), participants completed questionnaires related to bonding with their infant at 6 weeks, 4 months, and 6 months postpartum and postpartum psychopathology at 6 months postpartum. In addition, during a 6 months postpartum home visit, mothers and infants participated in a dyadic play interaction subsequently coded for positive parenting behaviors by blinded coders. Results We found that all women independent of risk status increased in bonding to their infant over the first 6 months postpartum; however, women with postpartum psychopathology (depression and PTSD) showed consistently greater bonding impairment scores at all times points. Moreover, we found that at the 6 months assessment bonding impairment and observed parenting behaviors were significantly associated. Conclusion These results highlight the adverse effects of maternal postpartum depression and PTSD on mother-infant bonding in early postpartum in women with child abuse and neglect histories. These findings also shed light on the critical need for early detection and effective treatment of postpartum mental illness in order to prevent problematic parenting and the development of disturbed mother-infant relationships. Results support the use of the Parenting Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) as a tool to assess parenting quality by its demonstrated association with observed parenting behaviors.

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The expected child versus the actual child: implications for the mother–baby bond

Cited by 18 publications

References 17 publications

Symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder in couples after birth: association with the couple's relationship and parent–baby bond

Symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder in couples after birth: association with the couple's relationship and parent–baby bond

Maternal representations and emotional availability among drug‐abusing and nonusing mothers and their infants

Mother–infant bonding impairment across the first 6 months postpartum: the primacy of psychopathology in women with childhood abuse and neglect histories

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