Abstract
0ne hundred and twelve mothers who partici- pated in a prospective study of postnatal
depression and child development participated in
the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI, George et
al., 1985) when their children were 12 months of
age. The quality of the attachment relationship was
assessed when infants were 15 months using the
Strange Situation Procedure (Ainsworth & Wittig,
1969). Relations between depression and the
attachment measures were assessed with a focus on
depression chronicity. Mothers with postnatal
depression (brief or chronic) were significantly more
likely to have an insecure state of mind with respect
to attachment (ps < .05). Infants of chronically
depressed (but not briefly depressed) mothers were
significantly more likely to be insecurely attached (p
< .05). However, there was a significant interaction
between maternal depression and attachment state
of mind in predicting child attachment security. A
secure state of mind with respect to attachment was
a protective factor for child attachment, even for
those mothers who experienced chronic depression.
Findings are discussed with respect to the diverse
research findings regarding relations between
maternal depression and attachment and the need
to identify factors other than depression that act as
risk or protective factors.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 206-206 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | Australian Journal of Psychology |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | S1 |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2004 |
Event | Conference of the Australian Psychological Society (39th : 2004) - Sydney, Australia Duration: 28 Sept 2004 → 3 Oct 2004 |