Pre-conception self-harm, maternal mental health and mother–infant bonding problems: a 20-year prospective cohort study
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Self-harm in young people is associated with later problems in social and emotional development. However, it is unknown whether self-harm in young women continues to be a marker of vulnerability on becoming a parent. This study prospectively describes the associations between pre-conception self-harm, maternal depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding problems. METHODS: The Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (VIHCS) is a follow-up to the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS) in Australia. Socio-demographic and health variables were assessed at 10 time-points (waves) from ages 14 to 35, including self-reported self-harm at waves 3-9. VIHCS enrolment began in 2006 (when participants were aged 28-29 years), by contacting VAHCS women every 6 months to identify pregnancies over a 7-year period. Perinatal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the third trimester, and 2 and 12 months postpartum. Mother-infant bonding problems were assessed with the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire at 2 and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-four pregnancies from 384 women were included. One in 10 women (9.7%) reported pre-conception self-harm. Women who reported self-harming in young adulthood (ages 20-29) reported higher levels of perinatal depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding problems at all perinatal time points [perinatal depressive symptoms adjusted β = 5.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.42-7.39; mother-infant bonding problems adjusted β = 7.51, 95% CI 3.09-11.92]. There was no evidence that self-harm in adolescence (ages 15-17) was associated with either perinatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Self-harm during young adulthood may be an indicator of future vulnerability to perinatal mental health and mother-infant bonding problems.
Source: Psychological Medicine
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute, Children's Hospital Foundation, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, National Institute for Health and Care Research, King's College London, University of Bristol, Australian Rotary Health, State Government of Victoria, Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council
Awards: Suicide and self-harm in young people in Australia, Preconception predictors of early childhood social and emotional development: a 30-year longitudinal study of grandparents, parents and children, Research Fellowship, G4525267494, Preconception predictors of health, behaviour and emotional adjustment at seven years, Perinatal Mental Health, Addressing evidence-practice gaps to improve maternal and child health outcomes in vulnerable populations, Predicting birth and early life outcomes, Preconception antecedents of health in the first year of life
OpenAlex ID: W2904592684