The mediating role of prenatal depression in adult attachment and maternal-fetal attachment in primigravida in the third trimester

Abstract

Background Prenatal depression and adult attachment are factors that affect the establishment of an intimate relationship between a mother and fetus. The study explored differences in prenatal depression and maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) scores between different types of adult attachment and the effects of maternal depression scores and attachment dimensions on maternal intimacy with the fetus. Methods The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Experience of Close Relationship (ECR) scale, Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) and a general data scale were used to investigate 260 primigravida. An exploratory analysis was performed to analyze the effects of the depression score and adult attachment on MFA. Results The results showed that pregnant women with insecure attachment exhibited an increased prevalence of prenatal depression, lower total MFA scores, and lower MFA quality compared with those women with secure adult attachment. The explorative analysis showed that the depression scores mediated the relationship between adult attachment avoidance and MFA quality. Conclusions Primigravida who had insecure adult attachment exhibited an increased prevalence of prenatal depression and lower MFA. Maternal depression and adult attachment may affect the emotional bond between a mother and fetus. This finding should be seriously considered, and timely intervention needs to take personality traits into consideration.

Perinatal depression screening and prevention: Descriptive findings from a multicentric program in the South of Italy

“…Since the transition phase to motherhood may be stressful for many women, those with an insecure attachment style may develop affective disorders after childbirth with the activation of internal working models based on a negative self-representation (18,63). Zhang et al (64) showed that primigravida women with an insecure attachment reported a higher prevalence of PD with lower emotional bonding between mother and child.…”

Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Prevalence of Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The average duration between data collection and publication was 2,018.187 ± 1.709 in the studies included in the analysis. The studies were conducted in Israel (Adler et al, 2019), United States (Gildner et al, 2020; Kalmbach et al, 2019; Kinser et al, 2018; Perzow et al, 2021), Turkey (Akgor et al, 2021; Alan et al, 2020; Nacar & Taşhan, 2019; Sel et al, 2019), Ethiopia (Bante et al, 2021; Belay et al, 2018; Duko et al, 2019; Gebremichael et al, 2018; Habtamu Belete et al, 2019; Shitu Ayen et al, 2020; Tesfaye & Agenagnew, 2021; Tiki et al, 2020), Bangladesh (Begum & Biswas, 2020), Italy (Cena et al, 2020; Ravaldi & Vannacci, 2020), China (Dong et al, 2021; Lau et al, 2018; Lin et al, 2021; Mo et al, 2018; Yang et al, 2021; Yu et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2021; Zhang, Yang, et al, 2020), Denmark (Ertmann et al, 2020), South Africa (Govender et al, 2020; Kaiyo-Utete et al, 2020), Iran (Hamzehgardeshi et al, 2021; Kazemi & Dadkhah, 2022; Saadati et al, 2021), Finland (Laitinen et al, 2021), Ghana (Lillie et al, 2020), Vietnam (Luong-Thanh et al, 2021), Croatia (Mikšić et al, 2018), Malez either (Nasreen et al, 2018), India (Sheeba et al, 2019; Venkatesh et al, 2019), Pakistan (Sabir et al, 2019; Shahid et al, 2020), Poland (Smyka et al, 2020; Stepowicz et al, 2020), Thailand (Tuksanawes et al, 2020), and the Netherlands (Zilver et al, 202...…”

“…Fifteen studies included in this systematic review had findings about the prevalence of anxiety during pregnancy (Bante et al, 2021; Cena et al, 2020; Dong et al, 2021; Hamzehgardeshi et al, 2021; Lin et al, 2021; Luong-Thanh et al, 2021; Nasreen et al, 2018; Ravaldi et al, 2020; Saadati et al, 2021; Sel et al, 2019; Venkatesh et al, 2019; Yang et al, 2021; Yu et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2021; Zhang, Yang, et al, 2020). Combined results of these studies indicated that the estimated anxiety rate was 22.3% (95% CI: 0.172–0.285; z : −7.500, p < .001, I 2 : 98.282).…”

“…Changing in the anxiety cases and measurement scores before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ten studies that were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis reported findings about the prevalence of anxiety during pregnancy before the Covid-19 pandemic (Bante et al, 2021;Cena et al, 2020;Hamzehgardeshi et al, 2021;Luong-Thanh et al, 2021;Nasreen et al, 2018;Sel et al, 2019;Venkatesh et al, 2019;Yu et al, 2020;Zhang et al, 2021;Zhang, Yang, et al, 2020). Anxiety rate during pregnancy before the Covid-19 pandemic was found 25.9% (95% CI: 0.162-0.387; z: −3.481, p < .001).…”

The mediating role of coping styles in the relationship between perceived social support and antenatal depression among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

“…These changes place substantial pressure on pregnant women and can lead to adverse outcomes such as AD, fatigue and cardiovascular disease [ 2 , 3 ]. The prevalence of AD in Chinese women ranges from 18.5% to 28.5% [ 4 – 6 ]. Moreover, the reported prevalence of AD may be underestimated [ 7 ].…”