Social support moderates association between depression and maternal–fetal attachment among pregnant Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the association between maternal depression and maternal–fetal attachment (MFA) and whether contextual variables such as social support and fathers’ presence moderated this association. Background: Adolescent pregnancy is associated with multiple risk factors that may compromise the relationship between mothers and their infants. However, this relationship starts during pregnancy, being affected by aspects such as social support and maternal depression. Method: Forty-nine adolescent mothers (M_age = 16.49 years; SD = 1.58) participated in the first wave of a longitudinal study which investigated social factors associated with parenting characteristics of Brazilian adolescent mothers; 65.3% reported they were cohabiting (married or living together) with the infant’s father. Results: Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that higher levels of social support were associated with greater MFA. Marital status was not significant. The association between maternal depression and MFA was significant for those participants who reported high levels of social support, but not for those participants who reported low levels of social support. Conclusion: Social support emerged as a key variable moderating the association between maternal depression and MFA. Contrary to expectations, maternal depression did not have a negative association with MFA, and further studies are needed to understand how social support promotes MFA, in the presence of other vulnerabilities, such as maternal depression.

Keywords:

• pregnancy
• mother(s)
• development
• social support
• maternal depression
• depression

Notes

1. The recommended effect sizes used for this assessment were as follows (Cohen, 1988): small (f² = .02); medium (f² = .15); and large (f² = .35).