Paternal bonding is influenced by prenatal paternal depression and trait-anxiety.

Abstract

Background: Even though the development of an emotional bond to the child involves both parents, studies on the development of paternal bonding and the influencing factors are scarce. This pilot study examines the quality of paternal postnatal bonding in association with paternal depressive and anxiety symptoms before and after birth. Methods: Expecting parents (n = 81) were recruited from maternity services in Frankfurt, Germany. At recruitment and 3 months postpartum (pp) mothers and fathers completed an interview including sociodemographic and pregnancy data. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. At 3-month pp, fathers also completed the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire for the assessment of bonding difficulties. A total of 63 couples, from whom data were available for both time points, were included in the final study group.

Results: Depressive and anxiety symptoms before birth are the best predictors for the quality of paternal bonding pp (Total score R² .402 p = .001; Impaired bonding R² .299 p = .019; Rejection and Anger R² .353 p = .005; Anxiety about care R² .457 p = .000). Maternal depression and sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated.

Limitations: High selected small study group.

Conclusions: Paternal depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy are highly predictive for the quality of bonding as well as for the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms 3 month pp. It is necessary to identify these symptoms as soon as possible in order to prevent later negative impacts on parental mental health and on child developmental outcomes.