A new study highlights how secure early mother-infant bonding can mitigate the long-term emotional and behavioral effects of postpartum depression on children, offering crucial insights into child development and mental health.
Postpartum Depression and Child Development
Maternal mental health and early bonding are critical to a child’s social and emotional development. Postpartum depression often disrupts these bonding processes, increasing risks of insecure attachment and developmental delays. While short-term impacts are well-documented, less is known about the combined long-term effects on children’s psychosocial outcomes during middle childhood.
The Study
A research team led by Associate Professor Daimei Sasayama and Professor Hideo Honda from Shinshu University School of Medicine, Japan, investigated how postpartum depression and early bonding affect sixth-grade children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties. Findings were published in the Archives of Women’s Mental Health on April 15, 2025.
Methodology
Sample: 245 mother–child pairs from Okaya, Japan (children born 2009–2012).
Measures:
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- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
- Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale – Japanese version (MIBS-J)
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
Data Collection: EPDS and MIBS-J at 2 weeks–1 month postpartum; SDQ in sixth grade.
Key Findings
Among mothers, 17.1% showed postpartum depressive symptoms, consistent with national rates. The study found:
- Postpartum depression directly and indirectly affected child emotional and behavioral difficulties.
- Mother-to-infant bonding mediated 34.6% of depression’s impact on child difficulties.
- Boys exhibited higher difficulty scores than girls, especially in conduct and hyperactivity/inattention.
- Children of mothers with postpartum depression consistently showed greater difficulties, regardless of rating source.
Implications for Intervention
“Our findings emphasize the protective role of secure early bonding against the negative effects of maternal postpartum depression,” said Dr. Sasayama. “Early interventions targeting mother-infant bonding are essential to promoting healthier child outcomes.”
Future Research Directions
Further studies should examine which specific depressive symptoms most disrupt bonding, include larger populations, and consider genetic and socioeconomic factors to refine targeted interventions for affected families.
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