Attachment and interpersonal relationships in postnatal depression

Abstract

Postnatal depression (PND) is a debilitating condition that has demonstrated negative impacts on the mother, her infant, and her intimate and social relationships. Using an attachment theory perspective, this study examined the relationship of insecure working models of attachment to depression, marital quality, infant bonding, and social support in Australian samples of diagnosed depressed (n=47) and comparison (n=68) mothers. Clinically depressed mothers reported less security of attachment and more preoccupied and fearful attachment. Irrespective of diagnostic status, attachment styles characterised by a negative model of self were associated with higher depression and lower quality of relationship with baby and spouse and the perception of less social support. The role of dismissing attachment in the outcomes was less clear. The potential mutual influence of depression and attachment working models is discussed, and it is concluded that while insecure attachment working models may be associated with postnatal depression, further research using longitudinal methods and multiple attachment assessment techniques is required.

Keywords:

• postnatal depression
• attachment
• social support
• marital satisfaction
• infant bond