Infant carrying is associated with reduced maternal repetitive negative thinking and increased maternal mental health

Mental disorders, such as postnatal depression, are common in mothers. Repetitive negative thinking has been identified as a cognitive factor underlying the resulting difficulties in mother-infant interactions. The present online survey investigated associations between infant carrying (baby-wearing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of reproductive and infant psychology 2023-09, Vol.41 (4), p.456-469
Main Authors: Schoppmann, Johanna, Teismann, Tobias, Holleck-Weithmann, Valerie Alina, Hundertmark, Emma, Jandewerth, Katharina, Obereiner, Pauline, Rudolph, Dinah, Seehagen, Sabine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cognition
Health problems
Health status
infancy
Infant carrying
Infants
intervention
Maternal and infant welfare
Maternal characteristics
Maternal depression
maternal positive mental health
Mental disorders
Mental health
Mental health services
Mother-infant relations
Mothers
Parent-child relations
Postpartum depression
Postpartum period
repetitive negative thinking
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Summary:Mental disorders, such as postnatal depression, are common in mothers. Repetitive negative thinking has been identified as a cognitive factor underlying the resulting difficulties in mother-infant interactions. The present online survey investigated associations between infant carrying (baby-wearing) and maternal repetitive negative thinking and positive mental health. Repetitive negative thinking was significantly lower, and positive mental health was significantly higher while carrying compared to overall levels. There were no relations between maternal mental health and frequency of carrying. Maternal activities during carrying are portrayed. These results are the first indication that carrying could be a low threshold, easily administered intervention method for maternal mental health problems.
ISSN:0264-6838
1469-672X
DOI:10.1080/02646838.2021.2012647