Psychosocial risks for decreased maternal bonding during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Citation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) presented the pregnant population with unique challenges and stressors. Social distancing and pandemic restrictions lead to some pregnant women feeling isolated and later unable to share the joy of the birth of their child with friends and family. This study sought to investigate the association of COVID-19, mental health symptoms (depression and anxiety), and other sociodemographic variables on the change of maternal bonding from the prenatal to postpartum period to better identify pregnant women at risk for decreased bonding.
METHODS: This longitudinal analysis used data from the Perinatal Experiences and COVID-19 Effects (PEACE) Study which included self-reported data collected from an online survey completed at each of the two timepoints over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, May 19, 2020, to June 20, 2021. Over 2,000 women participated in this study, but for the purpose of the longitudinal analysis only women who were pregnant during the first time point and later participated in the second time point once they were 1 day to 6 months postpartum were included, 204 women.
RESULTS: Women who reported experiencing their first pregnancy were significantly associated with an increased change in bonding when accounting for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health symptoms (depression and anxiety), pandemic related grief due to experienced losses, and pandemic related worries during the first time point. COVID-19 related worries experienced during pregnancy were associated with a decreased change in bonding. Similarly, to the predictor for first pregnancy, when accounting for the variables in time point two, pandemic related worries showed no association with a decrease in bonding. COVID-19 related grief due to loss of experiences in the postpartum period were associated with a decrease in bonding scores.
DISCUSSION: This study found that mothers being pregnant for the first time is associated with decreased bonding, and COVID-19 related worries during pregnancy and grief during postpartum are risk factors for a decreased maternal bonding during the transition from pregnancy to postpartum.