The Open Family Studies Journal
2016, 8 : 27-36Published online 2016 December 30. DOI: 10.2174/1874922401608010027
Publisher ID: TOFAMSJ-8-27
RESEARCH ARTICLE
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
* Address correspondence to this author at the Kitamura Institute of Mental Health Tokyo, Flat A, Riverlandhouse Tomigaya, 2-26-3, Tomigaya, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan; Tel: 81-3-5738-8371; E-mail: kitamura@institute-of-mental-health.jp
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.