The Effect of Maternal Depression on Infant Attachment: A Systematic Review

Aims and objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the key findings of empirical studies assessing the influence of maternal depression on child attachment security measured before 24 months after birth. Method: The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. A literature search was conducted on the EBSCO (Academic Search Complete; Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; MEDLINE; PsycARTICLES) and PubMed databases, with infant attachment AND depression as search terms with Boolean operators. Study design or sample size did not affect inclusion. After screening, 29 of the 1510 unique publications originally identified were included in the review. Results: The studies reveal an equivocal association between maternal depression and child attachment security. Our findings indicate that depression had a significant influence on the attachment style almost only when diagnosed by structured interview: Depression measured by self-descriptive questionnaires was unrelated to attachment style. Furthermore, postpartum depression was found to be significant only when measured up to six months after childbirth. Conclusion: The relationship between maternal depression and infant attachment is both complex and dynamic, and the possible negative effects of depression might be compensated by maternal involvement in childcare. Therefore, further studies in this area should employ a reliable methodology for diagnosing depression and a suitable time point for measuring it; they should also adopt a multifactorial and prospective approach. It is important to note that breastfeeding/formula feeding was omitted as a factor in the majority of studies

Reproductive psychology- state-of-the-art and perspectives

The paper describes a new psychological discipline – reproductive psychology that deals with psychological processes and behaviour of people involved in procreation. However reproductive psychology is regarded as separate discipline it is closely connected to clinical, social, developmental and health psychology as well as psychology of personality. Main methodological issues – research paradigms and research tools were also discussed. The last part gives short presentation of new trends in reproductive psychology research, ie. psychological aspects of assisted reproductive technologies, traumatic stress related to reproductive experiences and analyses of male perspective on procreation

The construction of the scale evaluation of the menopause

The paper describes the construction of a tool designed to measure opinions on the menopause. The main assumptions and the process of construction is described step by step. The tool consists of 35 items and allows to evaluate both positive and negative aspects of the menopause (POZ and NEG subscales) on 5-points Likert type scale. It allows also for comparisons of both types of opinions (DIF index). Reliability coefficients (test-retest, Cronbach’s α and Spearman-Brown’s coefficient) are sufficiently high. The temporary norms were calculated based on frequency distribution from a study of 175 women

Reproductive health and mental health – relations within the life cycle

The concept of reproductive health, accepted by the World Health Organization in 1994, resembles the WHO definition of health. Hence, this definition relates health to an individual’s well-being in all areas related to reproductive activity. The application of such concept of reproductive health allows social sciences, including psychology, to enter the arena of research. Psychological approach seems crucial especially for analyses of reproductive failures and difficulties, which might affect mental health. The paper presents examples of possible relationships between reproductive health and mental health, with special focus on the following issues: 1) the role of hormonal changes in reproductive and post-reproductive phases of life, 2) the social determinants of human reproduction, 3) the role of factors that affect both reproductive and mental health. The example of relevant research studies are given.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00

Bio-Psycho-Social Approach to Reproductive Mental Health and Reproductive Decisions

The reproductive period in the human life cycle covers a great part of a person’s existence and is associated with many significant life changes [...

Long term consequences of sexual abuse in childhood

Prace poglądow

Report from the XII Congress of the Polish Society of Social Psychology

Publikacja finansowana przez Wydział Nauk o Wychowaniu Uniwersytetu Łódzkieg