Adult attachment style and maternal-infant bonding: the indirect path of parenting stress

Catharina Elisabeth Arfwedson Wang,Kamilla Rognmo,Inger Pauline Landsem,Vibeke Moe,Agnes Bohne,Ragnhild Sørensen Høifødt,Dag Nordahl

doi:10.1186/s40359-020-00424-2

Abstract

BackgroundThe quality of maternal-infant bonding is related to important child outcomes. The literature has assumed that the ability to form relationships is a relatively stable trait, and research studies have suggested that a mother’s attachment style in close adult relationships is related to mother-infant bonding. The transition to parenthood is also often stressful, and the adult attachment style may relate to parenting stress in the first year after birth. Such stress could possibly have a negative relationship with the mother-infant bond. In the present study, we examined the associations between maternal adult attachment styles and the quality of mother-infant bonding and whether this relationship is mediated by parenting stress.MethodsThe present study sample comprised 168 women (mean age 31.0 years, SD 4.23 years). Between weeks 31 and 41 of gestation, the anxious and avoidant adult attachment dimensions were measured with the Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire (ECR). Between 5 and 15 weeks after birth mother-infant bonding and parenting stress were measured with the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS) and the Parenting Stress Index-Parent Domain (PSI-PD), respectively.ResultsBoth attachment-related avoidance and attachment-related anxiety correlated significantly and negatively with mother-infant bonding. However, a regression analysis showed that only attachment-related avoidance was a significant predictor of mother-infant bonding when controlling for demographic variables and maternal mental health history. The relationship between the adult attachment style and bonding was mediated by parenting stress. Higher scores on attachment avoidance and anxiety were related to increased stress, which was related to decreased quality of bonding. The overall parent domain and the subscale of competence in the parent-related stress dimension mediated between attachment avoidance and bonding, and the overall parent domain and the subscales of competence and role restriction mediated between attachment anxiety and bonding. There was no direct relationship between the adult attachment style and mother-infant bonding when parenting stress was included as a mediator.ConclusionsThis study illustrates that maternal adult attachment style relates to mother-infant bonding. This relationship was mediated by parenting stress. The results may have implications for the early identification of mothers at risk of having bonding difficulties.

Highlights

The quality of maternal-infant bonding is related to important child outcomes
This study illustrates that maternal adult attachment style relates to mother-infant bonding
The stress variable sense of competence in the parenting role mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and bonding, and sense of competence and role restriction mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and bonding

Summary

Introduction

The quality of maternal-infant bonding is related to important child outcomes. The literature has assumed that the ability to form relationships is a relatively stable trait, and research studies have suggested that a mother’s attachment style in close adult relationships is related to mother-infant bonding. The transition to parenthood is often stressful, and the adult attachment style may relate to parenting stress in the first year after birth Such stress could possibly have a negative relationship with the mother-infant bond. It has been argued that while attachment encompasses care seeking, bonding might be more related to caregiving [8] These two concepts might tap into different aspects of the parent-child relationship. Attachment theory states that establishing close bonds/relations to others is of central importance to all humans, irrespective of age [9] This is further elaborated with the construct of internal working models, which are assumed to develop during early childhood from experiences with important caregivers, and to have an impact throughout life on the way we relate to ourselves and other people [10]. Attachment avoidance concerns unease with dependency and intimacy [12, 13]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion