A comparison of the mother-infant attachment in mothers with and without pregnancy related physical health conditions: An analysis of the growing up in Scotland cohort
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Authors
Sophie Tyrrell
SJ (Ash) Summers
Christopher J. Wilson
Emily Staite
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Issue Date
28/03/2026
Type
Journal article
Language
Keywords
Children and Young People
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Abstract
Research has begun taking a holistic approach in understanding what factors may impact the mother-infant attachment, by considering the impact of pregnancy-related physical health conditions, and whether maternal mental health plays a role. This study tested the hypothesis that pregnancy-related physical health conditions - hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), preeclampsia, anaemia, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) - are associated with a perceived difficult mother-infant attachment in the first year of an infant's life in a cohort of women recruited during pregnancy, compared to mothers without these conditions. It also investigated whether poor maternal mental health moderates these relationships. A retrospective analysis of a Scottish cohort database was conducted consisting of 4442 participants: HG (n = 523) and non-HG group (n = 3919); preeclampsia (n = 636) and non-preeclampsia group (n = 3806); anaemia (n = 384) and non-anaemia group (n = 4058); UTIs (n = 227) and non-UTIs group (n = 4215). Maternal mental health was significantly associated with the mother-infant attachment. Preeclampsia was the only condition (positively) associated with the mother-infant attachment. Poor maternal mental health in HG was significantly associated with a less positive mother-infant attachment. Experiencing additional physical health conditions during pregnancy does not necessarily equate to a less-than-optimal mother-infant attachment. Certain sub-groups (e.g. HG) are at an increased risk of less positive mother-infant attachments should they experience poor maternal mental health.
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Citation
Tyrrell, S. et al. (2026) ‘A comparison of the mother-infant attachment in mothers with and without pregnancy related physical health conditions: An analysis of the growing up in Scotland cohort’, Infant Behavior and Development, 83, p. 102191. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2026.102191.
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Journal
Infant Behavior and Development
Volume
83