The role of maternal postnatal depression in the construction of the attachment and triadic relationship.

Background: studies show how child development and the construction of primary affective-relational interaction could be compromised by post partum maternal depression . The aims are: a) to observe triadic interactions in families with or without maternal depressive symptoms. b) to study different styles of child’s attachment with mothers with or without post partum depression. Methods: the sample is composed by an experimental group, of 13 families, in which mothers show depressive symptoms in the post partum, and a control group without depressive symptoms .The study investigate: depressive symptoms in the post partum studied at first and at 9th month post partum ( Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cox, Holden Sagovsky, 1987); triadic interactions during pregnancy and at 4th , 9th, 12th and 18th month of infant’s life ( Lausanne Triadic Play Fivaz-Depeuersinge, Corboz-Warnery, 2000), infant temperament at 4th and 9th month of infant’s life ( Infant Behavior Questionnaire, Rothbart, Garstein,2002) pattern of attachment at 12th month of infant’s life ( Strange Situation Procedure, Ainsworth, Blehar, Water, Wall, 1978) and the attachment reppresentation in mother and father during pregnancy ( Adult Attachment Interview, George, Kaplan, Main, 1984) Results: results show a) an improvement in triadic interaction during the time for all the mothers. b) no statistical differences between the two sample in the quality of the early triadic interactions. Data involving the construction of attachment are under study. Conclusions: postnatal depression doesn’t seems to influence triadic interaction, maybe for the role of father as protective and supportive factor for the family.