EPA-1274 – Maternal Representations and Mother-child Interaction in the Perinatal Period: Effects of Depression and Anxiety Comorbidity

Abstract

Introduction:

Post-partum depression is the most common complication of pregnancy in developed countries, affecting 10–15% of new mothers (McDonald et al., 2012). PPD can negatively impact a woman's wellbeing, maternal–infant interactions and child developmental outcomes from infancy through school age (Avan et al., 2010). Such conditions may be exacerbated by co-occurring anxiety symptomatology and perinatal stress (Brand, Brennan, 2009; Tambelli, Odorisio, 2013).

Objectives:

Nevertheless, empirical data show incongruent effects of perinatal maternal mental health upon mother-child relationship and the child's health. We believe that maternal representations may contribute to understand such differences.

Aims:

On such basis, the purpose of our research was to evaluate the influence of maternal representations on emotional availability during a free play interaction in the context of perinatal depression and anxiety comorbidity.

Methods:

We administered to 120 first time mothers (mean age= 33.57; s.d.=4.82) and their babies (mean age=6.55; s.d.=.63), the following measures: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Cox, et al., 1987); the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983); the Parent Stress Index – Short Form (Abidin, 1993) and the Maternal Representation Interview at Child's Birth (Tambelli et al., 2006). Finally, all mothers were video recorded during a free-play interaction with their child, assessed according to Emotional Availability Scales (Biringen, 2000).

Results:

Results showed significant different quality of maternal representations and mother-child interaction according to presence/absence of depression and/or anxiety.

Conclusions:

The study shows the need to acknowledge the woman's emotion-regulation style that needs to be supported in the context of psychological malaise during the perinatal period.