Maternal childbirth-related posttraumatic stress symptoms, bonding, and infant development: a prospective study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flowchart of participants who completed the instruments of the main variables (PCL-5, MIBS, and Bayley). PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. MIBS = Mother-Infant Bonding Scale.

Table 1. Descriptive characteristics of the participants (n = 55).

Variables	M (SD) or n (%)
Characteristics of mothers
Maternal age	33.62 (4.6)
Nationality Swiss European Non-european Missing values	26 (47.3) 19 (34.6) 3 (5.4) 7 (12.7)
Civil status Single Married/cohabitating Separated/divorced Missing values	14 (25.5) 33 (60) 1 (1.8) 7 (12.7)
Education Primary education Secondary education Higher secondary education Apprenticeship University or university of applied sciences Other Missing values	1 (1.8) 1 (1.8) 2 (3.7) 16 (29.1) 27 (49.1) 1 (1.8) 7 (12.7)
Professional activity Working Not working Missing values	32 (58.2) 15 (27.3) 8 (14.5)
Parity Primipara Multipara	32 (58.2) 23 (41.8)
History of traumatic birth Yes No Missing values	19 (34.5) 17 (30.9) 19 (34.5)
Characteristics of infants
Sex of the infant Girls Boys	27 (49.1) 28 (50.9)
Weeks of gestation	39.6 (1.3)
Birth weight (gram)	3273.2 (479.2)
Apgar at 5 minutes	9.33 (0.9)

Table 2. Linear regression PCL-5 and MIBS (unadjusted model).

Predictor	Dependent variable	N	B	95% CI	P
PCL-5 total at T1	MIBS at T1	50	0.152	[0.079, 0.224]	0.000***
PCL-5 GS at T1	MIBS at T1	50	0.268	[0.155, 0.381]	0.000***
PCL-5 BRS at T1	MIBS at T1	50	0.150	[0.009, 0.292]	0.037*
PCL-5 total at T1	MIBS at T2	45	0.064	[0.002, 0.127]	0.043*
PCL-5 GS at T1	MIBS at T2	45	0.101	[−0.004, 0.206]	0.059
PCL-5 BRS at T1	MIBS at T2	45	0.081	[−0.026, 0.188]	0.136
PCL-5 total at T2	MIBS at T2	46	0.033	[−0.014, 0.081]	0.166
PCL-5 GS at T2	MIBS at T2	46	0.021	[−0.054, 0.096]	0.574
PCL-5 BRS at T2	MIBS at T2	46	0.114	[0.014, 0.215]	0.025*

Note. BRS = birth-related symptoms. GS = general symptoms. MIBS = Mother-Infant Bonding Scale. PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5.

* p < .05.** p < .01.*** p < .001.

Table 3. Linear regression PCL-5 and MIBS (adjusting for EPDS and HADS-A).

Predictor	Dependent variable	N	B	95% CI	P
PCL-5 total at T1	MIBS at T1	50	0.134	[0.025, 0.243]	0.017*
PCL-5 GS at T1	MIBS at T1	50	0.306	[0.117, 0.496]	0.002**
PCL-5 BRS at T1	MIBS at T1	50	0.073	[−0.081, 0.228]	0.347

Note. BRS = birth-related symptoms. EPDS = Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. GS = general symptoms. HADS-A = anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. MIBS = Mother-Infant Bonding Scale. PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5.

* p < .05.** p < .01.*** p < .001.

Table 4. Linear regression PCL-5 and Bayley scale (cognitive, language, motor development) (unadjusted model).

Predictor	Dependent variable	n	B	95% CI	P
PCL-5 total at T1	Cognitive subscale of Bayley III	39	0.251	[−0.096, 0.599]	0.152
PCL-5 GS at T1	Cognitive subscale of Bayley III	39	0.163	[−0.440, 0.766]	0.587
PCL-5 BRS at T1	Cognitive subscale of Bayley III	39	0.748	[0.092, 1.404]	0.026*
PCL-5 total at T1	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	0.166	[−0.214, 0.547]	0.381
PCL-5 GS at T1	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	0.235	[−0.412, 0.882]	0.467
PCL-5 BRS at T1	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	0.326	[−0.421, 1.074]	0.382
PCL-5 total at T1	Language subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.158	[−0.558, 0.240]	0.425
PCL-5 GS at T1	Language subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.137	[−0.817, 0.543]	0.686
PCL-5 BRS at T1	Language subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.427	[−1.204, 0.349]	0.272
PCL-5 total at T2	Cognitive subscale of Bayley III	39	0.147	[−0.178, 0.474]	0.365
PCL-5 GS at T2	Cognitive subscale of Bayley III	39	0.173	[−0.335, 0.683]	0.494
PCL-5 BRS at T2	Cognitive subscale of Bayley III	39	0.370	[−0.349, 1.089]	0.304
PCL-5 total at T2	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	0.139	[−0.213, 0.491]	0.428
PCL-5 GS at T2	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	0.141	[−0.408, 0.691]	0.604
PCL-5 BRS at T2	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	0.393	[−0.381, 1.168]	0.310
PCL-5 total at T2	Language subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.166	[−0.534, 0.200]	0.364
PCL-5 GS at T2	Language subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.166	[−0.741, 0.407]	0.560
PCL-5 BRS at T2	Language subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.477	[−1.283, 0.328]	0.238

Note. BRS = birth-related symptoms. GS = general symptoms. PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5.

* p < .05.** p < .01.*** p < .001.

Table 5. Linear regression PCL-5 and motor subscale of Bayley III (adjusted for EPDS).

Predictor	Dependent variable	n	B	95% CI	P
PCL-5 total at T1^a	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.241	[−0.771, 0.288]	0.361
PCL-5 GS at T1^a	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.587	[−0.524, 0.349]	0.211
PCL-5 BRS at T1^a	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.150	[−1.017, 0.716]	0.726
PCL-5 total at T2^b	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.279	[−0.781, 0.222]	0.266
PCL-5 GS at T2b	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.534	[−1.278, 0.209]	0.153
PCL-5 BRS at T2^b	Motor subscale of Bayley III	39	−0.145	[−1.102, 0.811]	0.073

BRS = birth-related symptoms. EPDS = Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. GS = general symptoms. PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. ^aAdjusting for EPDS at T1. ^bAdjusting for EPDS at T2.

* p < .05.** p < .01.*** p < .001.