Health Care Climate, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and its implications on Mothers’ Attachment to their Baby

Abstract

Only a few studies focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth and its effect on mother-baby attachment. Existing data evidence a negative influence in mother-baby bond, resulting on inferior attachment levels in women meeting full/partial criteria for PTSD (Davies, Slade, Wright, & Stewart, 2008) and avoidant or anxious attachments (Ayers, Eagle, & Waring, 2006). The objective is to analyze the relation between perceived health care climate, mother’s childbirth PTSD and post-natal attachment. In this cross-sectional study 219 mothers aged from 18-47, mostly married, with a 1-12 months child, answered PPQ-Perinatal Posttraumatic Questionnaire, MHCCQ-Modified Health Care Climate Questionnaire and MPAS-Maternal Post-natal Attachment Scale. Results showed that education and health care climate predict PTSD symptoms. Age, PTSD symptoms and climate predicts mothers’ attachment. We conclude that PTSD symptoms have a negative effect on mother-baby relationship, particularly for younger mothers. Due to its relevance on mother-baby future bond, further research should address other contextual and individual variables which may increase or have a buffering effect on mothers’ vulnerability to PTSD.