Maternal postpartum behaviors and mother-infant relationship during the first year of life.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the hypothesis that maternal postpartum behaviors toward the newborn may predict the quality of the maternal-infant relationship during the first year.

DESIGN

Prospective, non-randomized, longitudinal cohort study of 174 maternal-infant dyads.

METHODS

A Postpartum Parenting Behavior Scale (PPBS) was formulated to measure clearly defined observed maternal behaviors toward the infant shortly after birth. The quality of the maternal-infant relationship was assessed at 6 months after birth with the Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training (NCAST) Feeding Scale and at 12 months after birth with the NCAST Teaching Scale and Ainsworth Strange Situation.

RESULTS

The PPBS score correlated significantly with the Feeding Scale score (r =.27, P <.005) and with the Teaching Scale score (r =.23, P <.01). Mothers whose infants were later classified as securely attached in the Ainsworth Strange Situation had higher PPBS scores than mothers of infants classified as insecurely attached (mean +/- SD: 5.18 +/- 1.51 vs 4.63 +/- 1.69, respectively, P <.05). In regression models adjusting for social and demographic factors, the PPBS remained a significant predictor of the Feeding Scale score, the Teaching Scale score, and security of attachment.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal behaviors in the immediate postpartum period may aid in predicting quality of the maternal-infant relationship during the subsequent 12 months, suggesting the potential for early identification of suboptimal parenting.