Differential impacts of parental attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder on early maternal‐infant attachment

TL;DR

Parental ADHD, whether in the mother or father, is linked to worse early maternal-infant bonding, likely due to increased depression and home stress.

Contribution

This study identifies that both maternal ADHD and coparent ADHD uniquely contribute to poorer maternal-infant attachment.

Findings

Mothers with ADHD reported higher postpartum depressive symptoms and home chaos compared to others.

Coparent ADHD was associated with the poorest maternal-infant attachment and increased hostility toward infants.

Postpartum depressive symptoms and coparent ADHD were significant predictors of poorer MIA.

Abstract

Parental attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with increased postpartum depressive symptoms and impaired daily functioning, potentially impacting early maternal‐infant attachment (MIA).

78 mothers, half with ADHD, were enrolled during pregnancy or postpartum. Participants completed questionnaires regarding social support, home chaos, postpartum depressive symptoms, and postnatal MIA. Pregnant participants (n = 45) also reported antenatal MIA. ANOVA compared mothers without ADHD (n = 44), mothers with ADHD (n = 21), and mothers with ADHD coparents (infants' fathers; n = 13), and Benjamini‐Hochberg correction was applied to account for multiple testing. Multilevel linear regression examined predictors of MIA.

Mothers with ADHD reported greater postpartum depressive symptoms and home chaos than mothers with ADHD coparents or those without parental ADHD; mothers with ADHD coparents reported the poorest overall MIA and quality of attachment and greatest hostility toward their infants (Benjamini‐Hochberg false discovery rate q < 0.05). In the final model for MIA, postpartum depressive symptoms (B = −0.85, p < 0.001) and coparent ADHD (B = −4.70, p = 0.051) were associated with poorer MIA (R

2
 = 0.40, p < 0.001). When examining MIA subscales, postpartum depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with subscales measuring quality of attachment and absence of hostility but not pleasure in mother‐child interaction. When antenatal attachment was included, it (B = 0.65, p = 0.002), along with postpartum depressive symptoms (B = −0.60, p = 0.032), predicted postnatal MIA (R

2
 = 0.50, p < 0.001).

Given parental ADHD (mother or father) was associated with increased maternal postpartum depressive symptoms and less optimal MIA in this study, additional support for families with ADHD in the perinatal period may improve maternal and infant mental health outcomes. Future work incorporating observational data and additional investigation of the coparenting relationship is needed to further clarify determinants of MIA in early childhood.

Postpartum depressive symptoms have been reliably associated with less optimal maternal‐infant attachment (MIA), specifically lower quality of attachment and greater infant‐directed hostility.Mothers diagnosed with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as those with coparents with ADHD, report poorer attachment to their infants compared to mothers in non‐ADHD parenting pairs.Regression analyses indicate that both maternal postpartum depressive symptoms and presence of a coparent with ADHD negatively impact MIA in the neonatal period.
How and why parental ADHD, in either the birthing or non‐birthing parent, negatively affects early parental bonding remains poorly understood, warranting future investigation of symptom‐specific peripartum impairments.Providing expectant parents with ADHD with preventative interventions focused on ADHD symptom management may improve MIA and family functioning.

Postpartum depressive symptoms have been reliably associated with less optimal maternal‐infant attachment (MIA), specifically lower quality of attachment and greater infant‐directed hostility.

Mothers diagnosed with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as those with coparents with ADHD, report poorer attachment to their infants compared to mothers in non‐ADHD parenting pairs.

Regression analyses indicate that both maternal postpartum depressive symptoms and presence of a coparent with ADHD negatively impact MIA in the neonatal period.

How and why parental ADHD, in either the birthing or non‐birthing parent, negatively affects early parental bonding remains poorly understood, warranting future investigation of symptom‐specific peripartum impairments.

Providing expectant parents with ADHD with preventative interventions focused on ADHD symptom management may improve MIA and family functioning.