Maternal bonding, negative affect, and infant social-emotional development: A prospective cohort study

Theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence suggest that maternal bonding negative affect play a role in supporting infant social-emotional development (Branjerdporn et al., 2017; Kingston 2012; O'Donnell 2014; Van den Bergh 2017). However, the complex pathways likely to exist between these constructs remain unclear, with limited research examining temporal potentially bi-directional associations across pregnancy infancy. The interrelationships bonding, affect, were examined using multi-wave perinatal data from an Australian cohort study (N = 1,579). Self-reported assessed at each trimester, 8 weeks 12 months postpartum. Bayley-III scale was administered age months. Results revealed strong continuities Small (? -.10 -.20) existed during poor early bonding. Higher postnatal predicted .17). Limitations include somewhat advantaged predominantly Anglo-Saxon sample of families, use self-report measures (though psychometric properties). These limitations should be considered when interpreting findings. Maternal are interrelated yet unique constructs, suggested developmental interplay mother-to-infant social-affective development.