Predictors of parent-child bonding and parenting satisfaction during the perinatal period: A structural equation model.

Objectives: To examine the predictors of parent-child bonding and parenting satisfaction using structural equation models at three time points across the perinatal period: (1) during pregnancy at >24 gestational weeks, (2) one month postpartum, and (3) three months postpartum.

Methods: This longitudinal exploratory quantitative study recruited a convenient sample of 118 heterosexual couples (236 participants; 118 mothers and 118 fathers) from maternity clinics of a public tertiary hospital in Singapore. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the parents' characteristics and study variables. Structural equation modeling was used to test the appropriateness of the hypothesized model on the study variables. Multigroup analyses according to gender were conducted to understand the relationships among parental outcome variables for mothers and fathers separately. Goodness-of-fit statistics were used to determine the adequateness of the hypothesized models.

Results: An adequate fit between the hypothesized model and the study's data was reported for all analyses. Among couples, no variable was identified as a significant predictor for parent-child bonding, while parenting self-efficacy, parent-child bonding, and social support were identified as significant predictors of parenting satisfaction. Fathers with more social support had stronger father-infant bonds. Mothers with poorer psychological well-being had more maternal-child bonding and maternal satisfaction. Different relationships between the parental variables among fathers and mothers were reported at only one month postpartum.

Conclusion: Both parents need to receive perinatal support.

Implications to practice: Fathers could receive more encouragement to be involved in perinatal care and maternal-infant bonding can be promoted during the first month postpartum.