Archives of women's mental healthApr 10, 2015

Link between parents' depression symptoms and difficulties bonding with their baby

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 4, 2026

Abstract

Impaired bonding with the infant was reported in 727 couples, with the highest prevalence observed when both parents had depressive symptoms.

Impaired bonding is associated with higher depressive symptom scores in both mothers and fathers.
Marital problems are linked to impaired bonding with the infant.
The connection between parental depressive symptoms and impaired bonding is significant even after adjusting for confounding factors.
Depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum may affect bonding with the infant by 6 months postpartum.
Screening for depressive symptoms in both parents during early parenthood is important.

Simplified

Impaired bonding with the infant is associated with maternal postpartum depression but has not been investigated extensively in fathers. The primary study aim was to evaluate associations between maternal and paternal depressive symptoms and impaired bonding with their infant. A secondary aim was to determine the associations between parents' marital problems and impaired bonding with the infant. The study is part of a population-based cohort project (UPPSAT) in Uppsala, Sweden. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire at 6 months postpartum were completed by 727 couples. The prevalence of impaired bonding was highest among couples in which both spouses had depressive symptoms. Impaired bonding was associated with higher EPDS scores in both mothers and fathers, as well as with experiencing a deteriorated marital relationship. The association between maternal and paternal impaired bonding and the mothers' and fathers' EPDS scores remained significant even after adjustment for relevant confounding factors. Depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum are associated with impaired bonding with the infant at 6 months postpartum for both mothers and fathers. It is critical to screen for and prevent depressive symptoms in both parents during early parenthood.

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Link between parents' depression symptoms and difficulties bonding with their baby

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