A network analysis of postpartum depression and mother-to-infant bonding shows common and unique symptom-level connections across three postpartum periods.

ABSTRACT: Postpartum depression and mother-to-infant bonding difficulties (MIBD), two issues crucial to maternal and infant mental health, often coexist and affect each other. Our study aims to dissect their complex relationship through a graphical LASSO network analysis of individual symptoms in 5594 Japanese postpartum women, whose geographical distribution was nationally representative. We identified 'fear', 'enjoyment', 'overwhelm', and 'insomnia' as common bridge symptoms linking postpartum depression and MIBD across three distinct postpartum periods. Moreover, 'self-harm' emerged as a bridge symptom in the first 6 months and the 7-12 month period, while 'laugh' was a bridge symptom in the first 6 months and the 13-24 month period. Notably, 'self-blame' was identified as a unique bridge symptom

SUBMITTER: Harasawa N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11754899 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature