Parental care and control during childhood: associations with maternal perinatal mood disturbance and parenting stress

Kerry Ann Grant*, Alison Bautovich, Catherine McMahon, Nicole Reilly, Leo Leader, Marie Paule Austin

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    42 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This study examined the associations between perceived parental care and control in childhood and maternal anxiety, depression and parenting stress during the transition to parenthood. Eighty-eight women completed the Parental Bonding Instrument, self-report measures of anxiety and depression and a structured diagnostic interview (Mini-plus International Neuropsychiatric Interview) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The MINI-Plus and anxiety and depression measures were re-administered at 7 months postpartum. The Parenting Stress Index was also administered at this time. Significant associations were found between maternal 'affectionless control' and prenatal and postnatal symptom measures of anxiety and depression, p values 0.005. Compared to women who reported optimal parenting, women who recalled maternal 'affectionless control' were also six times more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder during pregnancy (OR06.1, 95 % CI02.17-30.11) and seven times more likely to be diagnosed with postnatal major depression (OR06.8, 95 % CI01.80-25.37). Paternal 'affectionless control' was associated with significantly higher scores on symptom measures of prenatal and postnatal anxiety, p values 0.005. This study suggests that assessing a woman's own parenting history is important in identifying and managing the risk of prenatal and postnatal affective disorders and parenting stress.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)297-305
    Number of pages9
    JournalArchives of Women's Mental Health
    Volume15
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2012

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