Anna Malmquist, Greta Stén, Maria Nabatai, Emma Gustafsson, Katri Nieminen, Hanna Grundström
{"title":"Posttraumatic stress symptoms in sexual minority and majority women after difficult births: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Anna Malmquist, Greta Stén, Maria Nabatai, Emma Gustafsson, Katri Nieminen, Hanna Grundström","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2651851","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2651851","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although giving birth is often a positive experience, some individuals may perceive it as traumatic, and may develop birth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (BR-PTSD). Sexual minority women, who may face minority stress during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, could be at an increased risk for BR-PTSD.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To compare BR-PTSD symptoms between sexual minority and heterosexual women, following births that involved complications or were self-perceived as difficult experiences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An explorative, small-scale cross-sectional survey was used to explore post-traumatic stress symptoms in a sample (<i>n</i> = 339) of sexual minority (e.g. lesbian, bisexual, and queer) and majority (i.e. heterosexual) women who had experienced birth complications and/or perceived birth as a difficult experience. The survey included socio-demographic questions, questions about the birth, and Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R) to measure posttraumatic stress symptoms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>More stress symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.043) were reported by sexual minority women (<i>n</i> = 31; 9.3%, IES-R median 18) compared to heterosexual women (<i>n</i> = 302; 89.1%, IES-R median 11.5). No significant difference in symptoms were found in relation to participants' age, level of education, household income, origin, civil status, or parity. The findings are discussed in relation to minority stress theory.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>An accumulation of stress resulting from both traumatic birth experience and minority stress may explain the higher levels of BR-PTSD symptoms in sexual minority participants. However, this is a small-scale study where results must be interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Helena Moreira, Tatiana Dias, Daniela Mourão, Sandra Nakić Radoš
{"title":"The Portuguese version of the Peripartum Depression Scale (PDS-PT): a validation study in postpartum women.","authors":"Helena Moreira, Tatiana Dias, Daniela Mourão, Sandra Nakić Radoš","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2655222","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2655222","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>The Peripartum Depression Scale (PDS) is a comprehensive, multidimensional instrument designed to assess DSM-5-TR depressive symptoms across the peripartum period. This study is the first validation of a PDS translation and aims to examine the factor structure, reliability, discriminant validity, and known-groups validity of the Portuguese PDS (PDS-PT) in postpartum mothers.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>Adult mothers (<i>N</i> = 463) with an infant aged 0 to 12 months completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the PDS-PT, the Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale (MPSS), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The instrument's factorial structure was examined by comparing four competing models. A correlated nine-factor model provided the best fit to the data, although a hierarchical second-order model also demonstrated an acceptable fit. The PDS-PT total score and subscales showed adequate internal consistency. Correlations with the MPSS and DERS-SF were moderate, indicating moderate discriminant validity of the PDS-PT. Known-groups validity analysis showed that women with a mental health condition and those currently undergoing treatment scored significantly higher on the PDS than their counterparts. No significant differences were found between primiparous and multiparous women.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings support the factor structure, high reliability, and moderate discriminant validity of the Portuguese version of the PDS as a comprehensive measure of depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. These results highlight the PDS-PT as a valuable tool for clinical assessment and research in postpartum mental health and support its use as a total index of postpartum depression as well as the use of its subscales.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Celine K Klatter, Leontien M van Ravesteyn, Birit F P Broekman, Hanna M Heller, Mariëlle de Boer, Jelle Stekelenburg
{"title":"Integrated care for pregnant women with psychiatric and psychosocial problems; patients' and healthcare providers' perspectives.","authors":"Celine K Klatter, Leontien M van Ravesteyn, Birit F P Broekman, Hanna M Heller, Mariëlle de Boer, Jelle Stekelenburg","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2648623","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2648623","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Perinatal psychiatric and psychosocial problems lead to a higher risk of negative outcomes for mother and child. Treatment is challenging, due to barriers on patient, provider, and system level. Multidisciplinary integrated care, as provided by Dutch POP (Psychiatry-Obstetrics-Paediatrics) -outpatient clinics, can help to overcome these challenges. This study aims to investigate the compliance with and the experiences with a POP-outpatient clinic from patients' and POP-specialists' perspectives.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All women registered at the POP-outpatient clinic at Medical Centre Leeuwarden (the Netherlands) over an interval of 8 months were eligible for retrospective data-analysis to examine retention and adherence rates, to examine compliance. To explore experiences, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients (purposive sampling) and POP-specialists (full population sampling). Descriptive statistics and inductive thematic analysis were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of all patients (<i>n</i> = 103), the retention and adherence rates were 86.4% and 65.0%. Analysis of patients' interviews (<i>n</i> = 8) showed various themes: (1) meeting needs by personalised care, (2) importance of (multidisciplinary) communication (3) more barriers experienced by more frequent healthcare users. Analysis of POP-specialists' interviews (<i>n</i> = 7) showed the following themes: (1) importance of personalised care, (2) focus on prevention (3) limitations due to lack of continuity of care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study supports the acceptability of the (MCL-)POP-outpatient clinic. Patients and POP-specialists underscore the need of personalised care. While patients also find communication and a trustful relationship with the healthcare professional important, POP-specialists are more inclined to focus on social context and prevention. These different views provide ground for future research on multidisciplinary care in perinatal mental healthcare.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147575908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"\"Oh, who's the mum?\": a thematic analysis of neonatal experiences of lesbian and queer+ parents.","authors":"Abby Howes, Bob Budd, Elisabeth Norton","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2644328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2644328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the current research was to explore how LGBTQ+ parents experience neonatal units in the United Kingdom and how they feel their own sexual orientation and/or gender identity impacted this experience.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Admission of a baby to a neonatal unit can negatively impact parents' psychological wellbeing and parents of premature babies are at a higher risk of mental health difficulties. LGBTQ+ parents are more likely to experience discrimination and invalidation in healthcare. Family-centred care can promote respect and affirmation. However, much of the research focuses on cisgender heterosexual parents and there is little guidance for supporting LGBTQ+ families on neonatal units.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Twelve parents were interviewed about their experience of their baby being admitted to a neonatal unit. Although the study aimed to recruit participants from all identities within the LGBTQ+ community, the majority of participants identified as female, and lesbian or queer. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings were separated into two meta-themes based on experiences as parents and experiences specific to lesbian and queer+ parents. The focus of the current paper discusses the themes identified within the meta-theme, 'experience as lesbian and queer+ parents in a neonatal unit'. Four themes were discussed: 'real and perceived threats', 'adapting to a heteronormative world', 'positive experiences' and 'actions speak louder than words'.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The current research contributes to an important gap in the literature. Recommendations for clinical practice have been made, including the use of inclusive language and proactive actions.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara Panerati, Gianluca Cruciani, Nicola Carone, Marco Salvati
{"title":"The Attitudes Towards Surrogacy Scale: preliminary validation and psychometric properties in the Italian context.","authors":"Sara Panerati, Gianluca Cruciani, Nicola Carone, Marco Salvati","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2649904","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2649904","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Surrogacy elicits different attitudes influenced by ethical, cultural, and political factors. While scales for assessing attitudes towards surrogacy exist, their validity in sociopolitical contexts remains underexplored. Therefore, the current study aims to adapt and validate the Attitudes Towards Surrogacy Scale in the Italian context, where in December 2024 the domestic ban on surrogacy has been extended to encompass any surrogacy arrangements undertaken abroad by Italian citizens.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To reach this aim, in 2025, we implemented three independent studies to test the instrument's structure, internal reliability, measurement invariance, and its nomological and convergent validity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exploratory factor analysis (Study 1, <i>N</i> = 613) and confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2, <i>N</i> = 1,107), showed a two-factor structure of the scale and pointed out excellent fit, internal reliability, and measurement invariance across participants' gender and age. Finally, Study 3 (<i>N</i> = 334) evaluated convergent and nomological validity of the scale, pointing out significant associations with religiosity, political orientation, heteronormative attitudes, and anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy beliefs.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The Italian version of the ATSS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing attitudes towards surrogacy within a restricted legal context. This instrument may represent a promising tool helping provide insight to policymakers and public health organisations in designing and evaluating initiatives concerning surrogacy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of the current work may provide the foundation for future research, as well as inform public discourse, policy debate, and educational intervention related to reproductive rights and family diversity in Italy.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zoë Darwin, Gracia Fellmeth, Paul Galdas, Amy Jenkin, Vaheshta Sethna
{"title":"Relative protection? What becomes illuminated when paternal Perinatal suicide is seen.","authors":"Zoë Darwin, Gracia Fellmeth, Paul Galdas, Amy Jenkin, Vaheshta Sethna","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2646036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2646036","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sergey Zakharov, Aleksandr Malyshev, Alena Lochmannová, Caroline Hollins Martin, Colin R Martin
{"title":"Adaptation and psychometric validation of the Russian Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised in postpartum women.","authors":"Sergey Zakharov, Aleksandr Malyshev, Alena Lochmannová, Caroline Hollins Martin, Colin R Martin","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2646667","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2646667","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Birth satisfaction indicates maternity care quality and is shaped by communication, involvement in decisions, continuity, and perceived safety. This study translated and culturally adapted the original Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) into Russian (RU-BSS-R) and evaluated its psychometric properties in a sample of Russian-speaking postpartum women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional online survey recruited postpartum Russian-speaking women. After screening, analyses included 223 respondents. Translation used dual forward translation, back-translation, expert adjudication, and cognitive pretesting. Validity was examined with confirmatory factor analysis of established models, correlations with single-item satisfaction, respectful care, and traumatic appraisal, divergent validity with maternal age, internal consistency by alpha and omega, and known-groups comparisons by mode of birth and parity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three-factor, two-factor, and bifactor models showed excellent fit; the single-factor model fits poorly. Reliability was acceptable to good: alpha 0.71 (Stress), 0.70 (Attributes), 0.77 (Quality of Care), and 0.84 (total); omega total 0.85. Convergent validity was strong: total score correlated 0.77 with single-item satisfaction, 0.64 with respectful care, and -0.73 with traumatic appraisal. Divergent validity with maternal age was near zero. Known-groups results supported discriminant validity: unassisted vaginal birth exceeded emergency caesarean on Stress, Attributes, and total; multiparous women exceeded primiparous women on Stress and Attributes. Quality of Care was broadly similar across modes; effect sizes were small.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Russian BSS-R is a reliable, practical measure. The total score supports monitoring, while domain profiles highlight priorities such as preparation for labour, real-time communication, and visible support to strengthen agency and reduce perceived strain.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emma M Marshall, Pamela D Pilkington, Gery C Karantzas
{"title":"Significant interpersonal relationship issues experienced during infertility and fertility treatment journeys: a consensus study.","authors":"Emma M Marshall, Pamela D Pilkington, Gery C Karantzas","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2639384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2639384","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study recruited a panel of experts to reach a consensus regarding the most significant interpersonal relationship issues experienced during infertility and/or fertility treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Researchers, health professionals, and people with lived infertility/fertility treatment experience participated in three online surveys. The first survey asked participants to write the most significant relationship issues that they think people can experience during infertility and/or fertility treatment (<i>N</i> = 90, 99% female from Australia and New Zealand, the U.S.A. the UK, Italy, Japan, & Portugal; 19 identified as a researcher, 19 as a health professional, 58 with lived experience). Across two subsequent surveys, the panel rated the set of 82 identified relationship issues in terms of significance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven relationship issues were identified as the final set of the most significant relationship issues. The issues related to social connections generally (i.e. seeing and interacting with people who appear to conceive easily, a lack of understanding from others, and emotional experiences, mental health issues, and infertility stress negatively affecting relationships), romantic relationships (i.e. sexual satisfaction and intimacy issues, sexual functioning issues and emotional experiences and infertility stress negatively affecting the relationship), friendships (i.e. dealing with and responding to a friend's pregnancy or parenting journey). A relationship issue (negative thoughts and feelings) with the self was identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A range of relationship issues, spanning the entire social network, are experienced during infertility and/or fertility treatments. Researchers and professionals should focus on better understanding and addressing the most significant relationship issues identified to enhance health.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-23"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147379215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"French version of the well-being in pregnancy (WIP) scale: translation and psychometric validation.","authors":"Valentine Rattaz, Antje Horsch, Léo Pomar, Fiona Alderdice, Sarah Cairo Notari","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2641058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2641058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to validate the French version of the Well-being in Pregnancy (WiP) scale, a 12-item instrument assessing three dimensions of well-being during pregnancy: positive pregnancy, concerns over support after birth, and confidence in motherhood.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A sample of 299 pregnant women (second and third trimesters) in the French-speaking part of Switzerland completed an online survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure of the WiP and showed good internal consistency. Differences in the WiP scores were found according to women's employment status, financial resources, pregnancy trimester, pregnancy complications, parity, and previous childbirth complications. However, given the nature of the data, measurement invariance could not be examined and group comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The WiP scores were positively correlated with life satisfaction, positive affect, and negatively correlated with negative affect, anxiety and depression symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The French WiP is a valid tool for assessing well-being during pregnancy and represents a valuable resource for both research and antenatal care.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer M Warmingham, Andréane Lavallée, Marissa Lanoff, Jenna Russo, Ginger Atwood, Jill Owen, Charlee Manigat, Cristina R Fernández, Paul Curtin, Judy Austin, Ashley N Battarbee, Ann Bruno, Fatimah S Dawood, Sharon Ettinger, Kimberley Gani, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Maha Hussain, Margaret Kyle, Seonjoo Lee, Panagiotis Maniatis, Rachel Marsh, Tyler Morrill, Mirella Mourad, Gabriella Newes-Adeyi, Lawrence Reichle, Vera Semenova, Wendy Silver, Alan T Tita, Michael Varner, Kristina Wielgosz, Melissa S Stockwell, Catherine Monk, Dani Dumitriu
{"title":"Labour and delivery characteristics, maternal birth satisfaction and early relational health among COVID-19 pandemic-born children.","authors":"Jennifer M Warmingham, Andréane Lavallée, Marissa Lanoff, Jenna Russo, Ginger Atwood, Jill Owen, Charlee Manigat, Cristina R Fernández, Paul Curtin, Judy Austin, Ashley N Battarbee, Ann Bruno, Fatimah S Dawood, Sharon Ettinger, Kimberley Gani, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Maha Hussain, Margaret Kyle, Seonjoo Lee, Panagiotis Maniatis, Rachel Marsh, Tyler Morrill, Mirella Mourad, Gabriella Newes-Adeyi, Lawrence Reichle, Vera Semenova, Wendy Silver, Alan T Tita, Michael Varner, Kristina Wielgosz, Melissa S Stockwell, Catherine Monk, Dani Dumitriu","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2631181","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2631181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Medical events during birth and self-reported birth experience may influence early relational health (ERH) in the postpartum period. Limited longitudinal work has been conducted in this area, particularly among women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this study was to assess labour and delivery characteristics and maternal birth satisfaction as predictors of ERH domains of mother-reported bonding and observed emotional connection in the first year of life among women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>Participants included mothers (<i>n</i> = 384) with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy who gave birth at three U.S.-based academic medical centres who were enrolled in the Epidemiology of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 in Pregnancy and Infancy COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes (ESPI COMBO) Study. Labour and delivery information was abstracted from medical records. Mothers completed surveys assessing birth satisfaction (2 months) and bonding (4 months postpartum). A remote (Zoom) video visit was conducted at 4-6 months postpartum and observed mother-infant emotional connection was coded using the Welch Emotional Connection Screen. We evaluated study aims using structural equation models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Maternal and infant medical risks (e.g. maternal complications, unplanned caesarean deliveries, care escalation) were associated with lower maternal birth satisfaction, which in turn predicted lower mother-reported bonding and observed emotional connection in infancy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results provide insight into perinatal determinants of early relational health among infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic and inform transdisciplinary clinical care approaches to support families and children in the transition to motherhood.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13137259/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}