Depression, Anxiety and Primiparity are Negatively Associated with Mother–Infant Bonding in Japanese Mothers

Takaharu Motegi,¹ Yuichiro Watanabe,¹ Naoki Fukui,¹ Maki Ogawa,¹ Koyo Hashijiri,¹ Ryusuke Tsuboya,¹ Takuro Sugai,¹ Jun Egawa,¹ Rie Araki,² Kazufumi Haino,³ Masayuki Yamaguchi,³ Koji Nishijima,⁴ Takayuki Enomoto,³ Toshiyuki Someya<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan; ²Nursing, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan; ³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan; ⁴General Center for Perinatal, Maternal and Neonatal Medicine, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan

Correspondence: Yuichiro Watanabe
Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 757 Asahimachidori-Ichibancho, Chuo-Ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
Tel +81-25-227-2213
Fax +81-25-227-0777
Email yuichiro@med.niigata-u.ac.jp

Purpose: Postpartum depression is a well-known risk factor, and postpartum anxiety and parity are potential risk factors, for mother–infant bonding disorder. However, few studies have focused on the relationships among these factors and mother–infant bonding. This cross-sectional study explored the associations between depression, anxiety and parity, and mother–infant bonding.
Materials and Methods: Japanese mothers, both primiparas and multiparas, completed the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) one month after childbirth. We performed a stepwise multiple regression analysis with the forward selection method to assess the effects of HADS anxiety and depression scores and parity as independent variables on mother–infant bonding as the dependent variable.
Results: A total of 2379 Japanese mothers (1116 primiparas and 1263 multiparas) took part in the study. MIBS score (2.89 ± 2.68 vs 1.60 ± 2.11; p < 0.0001) was significantly higher in primiparas than in multiparas. HADS anxiety (6.55 ± 4.06 vs 4.63 ± 3.41; p < 0.0001) and depression (6.56 ± 3.43 vs 5.98 ± 3.20; p < 0.0001) scores were also significantly higher in primiparas than in multiparas. A stepwise multiple regression analysis with the forward selection method revealed that HADS depression and anxiety scores and parity were significantly associated with MIBS score (p = 0.003, 0.015 and 0.023).
Conclusion: Depression, anxiety and primiparity were negatively associated with mother–infant bonding one month after childbirth.

Keywords: HADS, Japanese, MIBS, parity, postpartum