View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Understanding the link between maternal childhood maltreatment and mother-infant bonding: postpartum depressive symptoms as a mediator.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Understanding the link between maternal childhood maltreatment and mother-infant bonding: postpartum depressive symptoms as a mediator.
Alternate Title: Comprensión del vínculo entre el maltrato infantil materno y el vínculo madre-infante: síntomas depresivos posparto como mediador.
Authors: Vogel, Lea (AUTHOR), Lux, Ulrike (AUTHOR), Deliens, Tom (AUTHOR), Ehring, Thomas (AUTHOR), Henning, Carmen (AUTHOR), Opitz, Ansgar (AUTHOR), Schoemann, Natalie (AUTHOR), Seiferth, Caroline (AUTHOR), Terhorst, Yannik (AUTHOR), Wittekind, Charlotte E. (AUTHOR), Löchner, Johanna (AUTHOR)
Source: European Journal of Psychotraumatology. Dec2025, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p1-11. 11p.
Subjects: Postpartum depression, Child abuse, Maternal love, Longitudinal method, Puerperium, Child development, Therapeutics
Abstract (English): Background: Impairments in mother-infant bonding (MIB) during the postpartum period were shown to adversely affect a child's development. Research suggests that such impairments are associated with mothers' own childhood experiences of maltreatment. Hence, understanding factors that mediate this relationship is essential for developing targeted preventive interventions to support mothers who experienced maltreatment in their own childhood during the perinatal period. Objective: As postpartum depression is associated with maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB, we aimed to examine the mediating effect of postpartum depression in the relationship between maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB. Methods: Longitudinal data from N = 128 mothers in the control group of an eHealth preventive intervention (I-PREGNO) were analysed. Using a path model, we investigated whether the association between maternal childhood maltreatment (measured by the Childhood Trauma Screener) and MIB (measured by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire) was mediated by postpartum depressive symptoms (measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). Results: Postpartum depressive symptoms fully mediated the relationship between maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB (indirect effect [ab]: b =.44, p =.001, 95% CI [.18,.70]; direct effect [c']: b =.01, p =.953, 95% CI [−.38,.41]; total effect [c]: b =.45, p =.041, 95% CI [.02,.89]). Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of addressing postpartum depression in mothers with childhood maltreatment experiences to promote MIB and to support a healthy start for the child. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register identifier: DRKS00031067. HIGHLIGHTS: The current article examines the mediating effect of postpartum depression in the relationship between maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB during the postpartum period. Postpartum depressive symptoms fully mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB. The results of the current article highlight the importance of addressing postpartum depression in mothers with childhood maltreatment experiences to promote MIB and to support a healthy start for the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): Antecedentes: Se ha demostrado que las dificultades en el vínculo madre-infante durante el periodo posparto afectan negativamente el desarrollo infantil. La evidencia sugiere que dichas dificultades se asocian con experiencias de maltrato en la infancia de las propias madres. Por lo tanto, comprender los factores que median esta relación es esencial para desarrollar intervenciones preventivas focalizadas que apoyen a las madres con antecedentes de maltrato infantil durante el periodo perinatal. Objetivo: Dado que la depresión posparto se asocia tanto con experiencias maternas de maltrato infantil como con dificultades en el vínculo madre-infante, nos propusimos examinar el efecto mediador de la depresión posparto en la relación entre experiencias de maltrato infantil materno y dificultades en el establecimiento del vínculo madre-infante. Métodos: Se analizaron datos longitudinales de N = 128 madres pertenecientes al grupo control de una intervención preventiva digital (I-PREGNO). Mediante un modelo de trayectorias se investigó si la asociación entre maltrato infantil materno (evaluado con el Cuestionario de Tamizaje de Trauma Infantil, CTS) y el vínculo madre-infante (evaluado con el Cuestionario de Vínculo Posparto, PBQ) estaba mediada por síntomas depresivos posparto (medidos con la Escala de Depresión Postnatal de Edimburgo, EPDS). Resultados: Los síntomas depresivos posparto mediaron completamente la relación entre experiencias maternas de maltrato infantil y dificultades en el vínculo madre-infante (efecto indirecto [ab]: b = 0.44, p = 0.001, IC 95% [0.18, 0.70]; efecto directo [c']: b = 0.01, p = 0.953, IC 95% [−0.38, 0.41]; efecto total [c]: b = 0.45, p = 0.041, IC 95% [0.02, 0.89]). Conclusión: Nuestros hallazgos resaltan la importancia de abordar la depresión posparto en madres con antecedentes de maltrato infantil con el fin de favorecer el vínculo madre-infante y promover un inicio saludable en el desarrollo del niño. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 190511755
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Understanding the link between maternal childhood maltreatment and mother-infant bonding: postpartum depressive symptoms as a mediator.
– Name: TitleAlt
  Label: Alternate Title
  Group: TiAlt
  Data: Comprensión del vínculo entre el maltrato infantil materno y el vínculo madre-infante: síntomas depresivos posparto como mediador.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vogel%2C+Lea%22">Vogel, Lea</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lux%2C+Ulrike%22">Lux, Ulrike</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deliens%2C+Tom%22">Deliens, Tom</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ehring%2C+Thomas%22">Ehring, Thomas</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Henning%2C+Carmen%22">Henning, Carmen</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Opitz%2C+Ansgar%22">Opitz, Ansgar</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schoemann%2C+Natalie%22">Schoemann, Natalie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seiferth%2C+Caroline%22">Seiferth, Caroline</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Terhorst%2C+Yannik%22">Terhorst, Yannik</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wittekind%2C+Charlotte+E%2E%22">Wittekind, Charlotte E.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Löchner%2C+Johanna%22">Löchner, Johanna</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Journal+of+Psychotraumatology%22">European Journal of Psychotraumatology</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p1-11. 11p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Postpartum+depression%22">Postpartum depression</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+abuse%22">Child abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maternal+love%22">Maternal love</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+method%22">Longitudinal method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Puerperium%22">Puerperium</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+development%22">Child development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Therapeutics%22">Therapeutics</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (English)
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Impairments in mother-infant bonding (MIB) during the postpartum period were shown to adversely affect a child's development. Research suggests that such impairments are associated with mothers' own childhood experiences of maltreatment. Hence, understanding factors that mediate this relationship is essential for developing targeted preventive interventions to support mothers who experienced maltreatment in their own childhood during the perinatal period. Objective: As postpartum depression is associated with maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB, we aimed to examine the mediating effect of postpartum depression in the relationship between maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB. Methods: Longitudinal data from N = 128 mothers in the control group of an eHealth preventive intervention (I-PREGNO) were analysed. Using a path model, we investigated whether the association between maternal childhood maltreatment (measured by the Childhood Trauma Screener) and MIB (measured by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire) was mediated by postpartum depressive symptoms (measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). Results: Postpartum depressive symptoms fully mediated the relationship between maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB (indirect effect [ab]: b =.44, p =.001, 95% CI [.18,.70]; direct effect [c']: b =.01, p =.953, 95% CI [−.38,.41]; total effect [c]: b =.45, p =.041, 95% CI [.02,.89]). Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of addressing postpartum depression in mothers with childhood maltreatment experiences to promote MIB and to support a healthy start for the child. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register identifier: DRKS00031067. HIGHLIGHTS: The current article examines the mediating effect of postpartum depression in the relationship between maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB during the postpartum period. Postpartum depressive symptoms fully mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and impairments in MIB. The results of the current article highlight the importance of addressing postpartum depression in mothers with childhood maltreatment experiences to promote MIB and to support a healthy start for the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (Spanish)
  Group: Ab
  Data: Antecedentes: Se ha demostrado que las dificultades en el vínculo madre-infante durante el periodo posparto afectan negativamente el desarrollo infantil. La evidencia sugiere que dichas dificultades se asocian con experiencias de maltrato en la infancia de las propias madres. Por lo tanto, comprender los factores que median esta relación es esencial para desarrollar intervenciones preventivas focalizadas que apoyen a las madres con antecedentes de maltrato infantil durante el periodo perinatal. Objetivo: Dado que la depresión posparto se asocia tanto con experiencias maternas de maltrato infantil como con dificultades en el vínculo madre-infante, nos propusimos examinar el efecto mediador de la depresión posparto en la relación entre experiencias de maltrato infantil materno y dificultades en el establecimiento del vínculo madre-infante. Métodos: Se analizaron datos longitudinales de N = 128 madres pertenecientes al grupo control de una intervención preventiva digital (I-PREGNO). Mediante un modelo de trayectorias se investigó si la asociación entre maltrato infantil materno (evaluado con el Cuestionario de Tamizaje de Trauma Infantil, CTS) y el vínculo madre-infante (evaluado con el Cuestionario de Vínculo Posparto, PBQ) estaba mediada por síntomas depresivos posparto (medidos con la Escala de Depresión Postnatal de Edimburgo, EPDS). Resultados: Los síntomas depresivos posparto mediaron completamente la relación entre experiencias maternas de maltrato infantil y dificultades en el vínculo madre-infante (efecto indirecto [ab]: b = 0.44, p = 0.001, IC 95% [0.18, 0.70]; efecto directo [c']: b = 0.01, p = 0.953, IC 95% [−0.38, 0.41]; efecto total [c]: b = 0.45, p = 0.041, IC 95% [0.02, 0.89]). Conclusión: Nuestros hallazgos resaltan la importancia de abordar la depresión posparto en madres con antecedentes de maltrato infantil con el fin de favorecer el vínculo madre-infante y promover un inicio saludable en el desarrollo del niño. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=190511755
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/20008066.2025.2567722
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Postpartum depression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maternal love
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Puerperium
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Therapeutics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Understanding the link between maternal childhood maltreatment and mother-infant bonding: postpartum depressive symptoms as a mediator.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Vogel, Lea
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lux, Ulrike
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Deliens, Tom
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ehring, Thomas
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Henning, Carmen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Opitz, Ansgar
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Schoemann, Natalie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Seiferth, Caroline
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Terhorst, Yannik
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wittekind, Charlotte E.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Löchner, Johanna
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 20008066
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 16
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: European Journal of Psychotraumatology
              Type: main
ResultId 1