Dispositional Mindfulness As a Moderating Mechanism for the Association Between Depression and Quality of Parental Bonding in Urban Expectant Parents

Background: Maternal depression during the perinatal period often disrupts bonding with the fetus and increases risks such as prematurity, low birth weight and infant development. Quality of prenatal bonding with the fetus is known to contribute to healthy pre- and post-natal parenting behaviors for mothers. Additionally, parent emotion reactivity is known to be a risk factor for harsh parenting, particularly in the face of depression. Little is known, however, about this process in fathers.

In a sample of expectant mothers and fathers (n=102) who are considered at high risk for insensitive and harsh parenting due to contextual risk factors such as exposure to violence and poverty, the current study hypothesized that dispositional (state) mindfulness would moderate the effects of physiological stress reactions and depressive symptoms on quality of prenatal bonding.

Methods:  Cross-sectional data from 102 pregnant mothers and the biological fathers were collected. Parents were recruited from local OB clinics and agencies within the Metro Detroit area. The sample included 57.6% African Americans, 28.3% Caucasians and approximately half are considered below the Federal Poverty Line.  Self-report measures of dispositional mindfulness (FFMQ), depressive symptoms (EPDS), and quality of bonding (MAAS & PAAS) from expectant parents were administered. Data were modeled using PROCESS in SPSS. Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) data was collected from both parents separately during a parenting stressor task to evaluate physiological stress (vagal tone). During this stressor, the parent was asked to sooth a realistic crying baby doll for ten minutes as if it was their own baby.

Results: The moderation model of mindfulness, depression and prenatal bonding was significant. For individuals reporting low levels of mindfulness, high depression scores were associated with lower levels of prenatal bonding. In contrast, for individuals who reported high levels of dispositional mindfulness, depressive symptoms were not significantly related to quality of bonding, even in parents with high depression scores. Preliminary RSA analyses indicate that higher levels of mindfulness contribute to higher levels of prenatal bonding.

Implications: These findings suggest that high levels of mindfulness may buffer the influence of depression on prenatal bonding and may be a potential protective mechanism for sensitive parenting. Mindfulness is a skill that can be learned and may be an effective way to improve resilience among parents who are more vulnerable for harsh parenting.