Parent-Infant Bonding
What is bonding?
a) Emotional connection between parents and infant
b) Process formed between child and parent
Reference: Young, R. (2013). The Importance of Bonding. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 28(3), 11–16.
Why do premature babies experience a negative impact on bonding?
First few moments of life are spent in the NICU, making bonding and skin to skin contact much more difficult
True or False: Parent-infant bonding impairment has short-term and long-term consequences.
True
An increase in ________ hormone is associated with greater affectionate behaviors from mothers.
Oxytocin (skin-to-skin contact releases oxytocin)
What are risk factors for/predictors of impaired maternal-infant bonding?
Postpartum depression (Kasamatsu et al., 2020; Lehnig et al., 2019;
Postpartum psychopathology (depression and/or PTSD) (Muzik et al., 2013)
Depressive symptoms antepartum and postpartum (Hildingsson & Rubertsson, 2022)
History of depression (Badr et al., 2018)
Maternal emotional neglect in childhood (Lehnig et al., 2019)
Fear of birth (Hildingsson & Rubertsson, 2022)
Primiparity (Hildingsson & Rubertsson, 2022; Yoshida et al., 2020)
Emergency C-section (Poojari et al., 2019)
Single parenthood (Hildingsson & Rubertsson, 2022)
Low social support (Badr et al., 2018)
Older maternal age (Badr et al., 2018)
During the first year of life, parent-infant bonding impairment is associated with ________ parenting behaviors.
a) Deficits in positive parenting behaviours
b) Low behavioural and affective sensitivity, engagement, flexibility, and warmth
References: Muzik, M., Bocknek, E. L., Broderick, A., Richardson, P., Rosenblum, K. L., Thelen, K., & Seng, J. S. (2013). Mother-infant bonding impairment across the first 6 months postpartum: the primacy of psychopathology in women with childhood abuse and neglect histories. Archives of women's mental health, 16(1), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0312-0
Why is infant and parent bonding important?
a) It is the foundation for infants’ physical, emotional, and psychological growth (Young, 2013)
b) Skin-to-skin contact promotes infants’ adaptation after birth, increasing body temperature and blood glucose, and improving sleep (Bystrova et al., 2003; Christensson et al., 1992; Ferber & Makhoul, 2004)
c) Bonding serves to keep infant close to caregiver in order to receive necessary care for survival (Sullivan et al. 2011)
d) Bonding encourages infant’s cognitive and emotional development (Sullivan et al. 2011)
e) Bonding promotes childhood social development (Joas & Möhler, 2021)
f) Bonding fosters resilience and is protective against long-term mental health issues (Winston & Chicot, 2016)
What are risk factors for/predictors of impaired paternal-infant bonding?
a) Paternal stress
b) Poor maternal infant bonding
Reference: Bieleninik, Ł., Lutkiewicz, K., Jurek, P., & Bidzan, M. (2021). Paternal postpartum bonding and its predictors in the early postpartum period: cross-sectional study in a Polish cohort. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 628650. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.628650
Beyond the first year of life, parent-infant bonding impairment is associated with ________.
a) Child developmental delay at 12-15 months (Faisal-Cury et al., 2021)
b) Increased risk of mental health issues (Winston & Chicot, 2016)
References: Faisal-Cury, A., Tabb, K. M., Ziebold, C., & Matijasevich, A. (2021). The impact of postpartum depression and bonding impairment on child development at 12 to 15 months after delivery. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 4, 100125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100125
Winston, R., & Chicot, R. (2016). The importance of early bonding on the long-term mental health and resilience of children. London Journal of Primary Care, 8(1), 12–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/17571472.2015.1133012