The mediating role of delivery mode on postpartum maternal depression and mother-infant bonding

Kamber Kasali; Gamze Nur Cimilli Senocak; Aysenur Dostbil; Emsal Pinar Topdagi Yilmaz; Agah Abdullah Kahramanlar; Sabri Selcuk Atamanalp

doi:10.12669/pjms.41.6.11759

Kamber Kasali Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine Department of Biostatistics https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2851-5263
Gamze Nur Cimilli Senocak Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erzurum https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6750-9210
Aysenur Dostbil Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Erzurum https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7167-901X
Emsal Pinar Topdagi Yilmaz Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erzurum https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8593-5726
Agah Abdullah Kahramanlar Clinic of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1453-4524
Sabri Selcuk Atamanalp Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Erzurum https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2561-6461

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11759

Keywords: Postpartum depression, Mother-infant bonding, Mediating role, Cesarean delivery, Vaginal delivery

Abstract

Objectives: The mother-infant relationship is a magical process that begins with conception and strengthens when the mother feels the baby’s movements. This special bond, formed during pregnancy, is shaped by the parent’s emotions, perceptions, and behaviors toward the fetus. Research shows that heightened maternal anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth affects maternal behavior and impairs mother-infant bonding. While studies suggest that delivery mode influences maternal anxiety and postpartum depression, results often vary due to group differences and confounding factors. Although delivery mode may impact postpartum depression and mother-infant bonding, direct research on its specific effects remains limited.

Methods: In this prospective study, a structured questionnaire was administered to 208 women in six months period between March, 2024 and September, 2024 in Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine Research Hospital. The survey aimed to gather participants’ demographic information and assess their mother-infant bonding and postpartum depression statuses. The Mother-infant bonding scale (MIBS) and the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) were used for data collection.

Results: The analysis determined that delivery mode did not significantly affect the EPDS total score and MIBS total score relation. The indirect effect was calculated as 0.001±0.001 (CI: -0.003 to 0.001, β =-0.002, p=0.635), the direct effect as -0.170±0.228 (CI: -0.618 to 0.277, β =-0.127, p=0.063), and the total effect as -0.036±0.019 (CI:-0.074 to 0.001, β=-0.129, p = 0.059).

Conclusion: This study showed that mode of delivery did not affect the postnatal maternal depression on mother-infant bonding.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11759

How to cite this: Kasali K, Cimilli Senocak GN, Dostbil A, Yilmaz EPT, Kahramanlar AA, Atamanalp SS. The mediating role of delivery mode on postpartum maternal depression and mother-infant bonding. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(6):1701-1707. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11759

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The mediating role of delivery mode on postpartum maternal depression and mother-infant bonding

Abstract

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