Unique Characteristics of Women and Infants Moderate the Association between Depression and Mother–Infant Interaction

Abstract

Research has shown mixed results regarding the association between women’s postpartum depression and mother–infant interactions, suggesting that a woman’s unique experience and context may moderate how depression shapes these interactions. We examined the extent to which a woman’s comorbid anxiety, her exposure to adversity, and infant characteristics moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms of women and interactions with their infants at 6 (n = 647) and 12 months (n = 346) postpartum. The methods included standardized coding of mother–infant interactions and structural regression modeling. The results at 6 months of infant age indicated that infant male sex and infant negative affectivity were risk factors for mothers’ depression being associated with less optimal interactions. At 12 months of infant age, two moderators appeared to buffer the influence of depression: a woman’s history of trauma and infant preterm birth (≤37 weeks gestation). The results reinforce the salience of infant characteristics in the relationship between maternal depression and mother–infant interactions. The findings also suggest that experiences of trauma may offer opportunities for psychological growth that foster constructive management of depression’s potential effect on mother–infant interactions. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying processes and mechanisms that explain the influence of these moderators. The ultimate goals are to reduce the risk of suboptimal interactions and reinforce healthy dyadic relations.