Factors Predicting Bonding During Child-Rearing: A Study From the Marital Relationships During Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to clarify whether the marital relationships during pregnancy predict bonding during child-rearing.

Methods: We sent questionnaires to 11,910 pregnant mothers and fathers aged 20 years and older. The questionnaire consisted of the demographic data, Quality Marriage Index, Mother-to-Infant Bonding Questionnaire, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. The survey periods were pregnancy, one week after childbirth, one month after childbirth, and four months after childbirth. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed with bonding four months after childbirth as the dependent variable to clarify whether the marital relationship of each mother and father predicts bonding.

Results: We enrolled 172 mothers and 141 fathers who answered all the items of the questionnaire. The marital relationships during pregnancy predicted the bonding of mothers and fathers during four months after childbirth, even after considering depression (Mothers: β = –0.210, p < 0.01, Fathers: β = –0.199, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The findings revealed that a good marital relationship during pregnancy is a contributing factor to the formation of good bonding during the four months after childbirth, and suggested the necessity of a good marital relationship during pregnancy.