Maternal Self-confidence Postpartum and at Pre-school Age: The Role of Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Maternal Attachment Insecurity

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Anna Lena Zietlow - , University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Myriam Kim Schlüter - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Nora Nonnenmacher - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Mitho Müller - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Corinna Reck - , Heidelberg University , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of maternal postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorders according to DMS-IV on maternal self-confidence throughout infancy and early childhood. Exploratively, associations between maternal attachment insecurity and maternal self-confidence at pre-school age were examined. The sample (N = 54) of this prospective longitudinal study was comprised of n = 27 women with postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorders according to DSM-IV criteria and n = 27 healthy women without present or history of mental health disorders or psychotherapy. Data was collected in the postpartum period (M = 60.08 days) and at pre-school age (M = 4.7 years). Subjects were recruited between 2004 and 2011 in South Germany. Data revealed a significant difference in maternal self-confidence between clinical and control group at childs pre-school age: Women with postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorder scored lower on maternal self-confidence than healthy controls, but only if they had current SCID-diagnoses or partly remitted symptoms. According to explorative analyses maternal attachment insecurity turned out to be the strongest predictor of maternal self-confidence at pre-school age besides maternal mental health status. The results emphasize the impact of attachment insecurity and maternal mental health regarding maternal self-confidence leading to potential adverse long-term consequences for the mother-child relationship. Attachment based interventions taking maternal self-confidence into account are needed.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1873-1880
Number of pages8
JournalMaternal and child health journal
Volume18
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2014
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 24474591
ORCID /0000-0002-7278-5711/work/142233566

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Anxiety disorders, Depression, Maternal attachment insecurity, Maternal self-confidence, Postpartum period

Library keywords