The impact of postpartum social support on postpartum mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social support is an influential component of postpartum recovery, adjustment, and bonding, which was disrupted by social distancing recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports on changes in the availability of social support for postpartum women during the pandemic, investigates how those changes may have contributed to postpartum mental health, and probes how specific types of social support buffered against poor postpartum mental health and maternal-infant bonding impairment. Participants were 833 pregnant patients receiving prenatal care in an urban USA setting and using an electronic patient portal to access self-report surveys at two time points, during pregnancy (April-July 2020) and at ~12 weeks postpartum (August 2020-March 2021). Measures included an assessment of COVID-19 pandemic-related change in social support, sources of social support, ratings of emotional and practical support, and postpartum outcomes including depression, anxiety, and maternal-infant bonding. Overall self-reported social support decreased during the pandemic. Decreased social support was associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and impaired parent-infant bonding. Among women reporting low practical support, emotional support appeared to protect against clinically significant depressive symptoms and impaired bonding with the infant. Decreases in social support are associated with a risk for poor postpartum mental health outcomes and impaired maternal-infant bonding. Evaluation and promotion of social support are recommended for healthy adjustment and functioning of postpartum women and families.

The effect of physical activity on mother-child relationship and parental attitudes: a follow-up study examining the long-term effects of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to evaluate effects of game-based physical activity model on mother-child relationship and parental attitudes during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic period. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study was designed using a web-based quasi-experimental model with a pre-test/post-test evaluation, with a control group. The mothers who accepted to participate in the study and their children were divided into experimental (group I, n=28) and control groups (group II, n=31). The mothers and children in the experimental group were asked to apply web-based game-based physical activity model for 20 minutes/day for 4 weeks. The online questionnaire included socio-demographic data form, Child Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS), and Parental Attitude Scale (PAS). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between mean scores of pre-test and post-test subscales of the PAS in group I (p>0.05 for all subscales). It was found that post-test scores of democratic subscales of PAS statistically significant decreased (p=0.047) and the authoritarian attitude subscale scores significantly increased (p=0.033) in group II. The mean pre- and post-activity scores of positive/close relationship and conflictual relationship subscales of CPRS differ between groups (p<0.05 for both subscales). Pre-post test scores of group II were found to be significantly lower compared to group II. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a moderate improvement in parameters evaluated; however, we suggest that longer-term activities may have a more permanent and statistically significant effect.

COVID-19, maternal, and neonatal outcomes: National Mother-Child Cohort (NMCC) of K-COV-N cohort in South Korea.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women have been classified as a vulnerable population. However, the evidence on the effect of infection during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes is still uncertain, and related research comprising a large population of pregnant women in Asian countries is limited. We constructed a national cohort including mothers and children (369,887 pairs) registered in the Prevention Agency-COVID-19-National Health Insurance Service (COV-N), from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022. We performed propensity score matchings and generalized estimation equation models to estimate the effect of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes. In summary, we found little evidence of the effect of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes; however, a relationship between COVID-19 infection in the second trimester and postpartum hemorrhages was discovered (Odds ratio (OR) of Delta period: 2.26, 95% Confidence intervals (CI): 1.26, 4.05). In addition, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions increased due to COVID-19 infection (pre-Delta period: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.31, 4.10; Delta period: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.69; Omicron period: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.75, 3.18). Based on the national retrospective cohort study data, this study investigated the effects of COVID-19 infection on maternal and neonatal outcomes in Korea from the pre-Delta to the initial Omicron epidemic periods. Our evidence suggests that the timely and successful policies of the government and academia in response to COVID-19 infections in newborns in Korea may cause an increase in NICU admissions, but nonetheless, they prevent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes simultaneously.

Maternal pandemic-related stress during pregnancy associates with infants' socio-cognitive development at 12 months: A longitudinal multi-centric study.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal maternal stress is a key risk factor for infants' development. Previous research has highlighted consequences for infants' socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes, but less is known for what regards socio-cognitive development. In this study, we report on the effects of maternal prenatal stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic on 12-month-old infants' behavioral markers of socio-cognitive development. METHODS: Ninety infants and their mothers provided complete longitudinal data from birth to 12 months. At birth, mothers reported on pandemic-related stress during pregnancy. At infants' 12-month-age, a remote mother-infant interaction was videotaped: after an initial 2-min face-to-face episode, the experimenter remotely played a series of four auditory stimuli (2 human and 2 non-human sounds). The auditory stimuli sequence was counterbalanced among participants and each sound was repeated three times every 10 seconds (Exposure, 30 seconds) while mothers were instructed not to interact with their infants and to display a neutral still-face expression. Infants' orienting, communication, and pointing toward the auditory source was coded micro-analytically and a socio-cognitive score (SCS) was obtained by means of a principal component analysis. RESULTS: Infants equally oriented to human and non-human auditory stimuli. All infants oriented toward the sound during the Exposure episode, 80% exhibited any communication directed to the auditory source, and 48% showed at least one pointing toward the sound. Mothers who reported greater prenatal pandemic-related stress had infants with higher probability of showing no communication, t = 2.14 (p = .035), or pointing, t = 1.93 (p = .057). A significant and negative linear association was found between maternal prenatal pandemic-related stress and infants' SCS at 12 months, R2 = .07 (p = .010), while adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic might have increased the risk of an altered socio-cognitive development in infants as assessed through an observational paradigm at 12 months. Special preventive attention should be devoted to infants born during the pandemic.

Challenges in developmental psychology research during the COVID-19 pandemic / Desafios da pesquisa em psicologia do desenvolvimento durante a pandemia da COVID-19 / Desafíos de la investigación en psicología del desarrollo durante la pandemia de COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a series of restructurings necessary for research in Developmental Psychology. The aim of the manuscript is to discuss adaptations we made in our research in this context during the COVID-19 pandemic and to present strategies to adequate research protocols originally designed to occur in person. Although some contexts do not allow the continuity of studies, research at this time can bring essential contributions in this extreme period. This article explores the strategies for adapting recruitment procedures, suggesting dissemination platforms, and using social networks for this purpose. Guidelines are suggested for conducting non-face-to-face interviews with caregivers, ways of assessing the interaction of the mother-child pairs, and problematizing ethical issues. The procedures for returning the results, an ethical researcher commitment, may be improved by resources such as automatic reports. Besides, strategies for better dissemination of the results for the participants are suggested. (AU)

A pandemia COVID-19 trouxe uma série de reestruturações necessárias à pesquisa em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento. O objetivo deste artigo é discutir as adaptações que realizamos em pesquisas neste contexto durante a pandemia de COVID-19 e apresentar estratégias para adequação de protocolos de pesquisa originalmente planejados para ocorrer de forma presencial. Embora alguns contextos não permitam a continuidade dos estudos, pesquisas nesse momento podem trazer importantes contribuições sobre este período ímpar. No presente artigo são exploradas estratégias de adaptação dos procedimentos de recrutamento, sugeridas plataformas de divulgação e como melhor usar as redes sociais para esse fim. Também são descritos procedimentos para realização de entrevistas não presenciais com responsáveis, formas de avaliação da interação das duplas mãe-criança e problematizadas questões éticas. Os procedimentos de devolução dos resultados, um compromisso ético dos pesquisadores, podem ser facilitados por recursos como relatórios automáticos. Além disso, sugerimos estratégias para melhor divulgação dos resultados ao público participante. (AU)

La pandemia del COVID-19 trajo una serie de reestructuraciones necesarias para la investigación en Psicología del Desarrollo. El objetivo de este artículo es discutir las adaptaciones realizadas en las investigaciones en este contexto durante la pandemia de COVID-19 y presentar algunas estrategias para la adaptación de los protocolos de investigación originalmente planeados para ser presenciales. Si bien algunos contextos no permitan la continuidad de los estudios, la investigación en este momento puede aportar importantes avances sobre estos tiempos de crisis. Este artículo explora las estrategias para adaptar los procedimientos de contratación, sugiriendo algunas plataformas de difusión y la mejor manera de utilizar las redes sociales para este fin. También se describen los procedimientos para la realización de entrevistas no presenciales con padres o tutores legales, las formas de evaluar la interacción madre-hijo y las cuestiones éticas. Los procedimientos para la devolución de los resultados, un compromiso ético de los investigadores, pueden verse facilitados por funciones como informes automáticos. Además, se recomienda estrategias para una mejor difusión de los resultados al público participante. (AU)

[Traumatic motherhood in Covid-19 times]. / Maternités traumatiques en temps de Covid-19.

In the context of maternal vital emergency due to Covid-19, dire situations of birth questioned the health practitioners of a neonatal intensive care unit. How can mothers take care of their baby when their own life has been threatened ? The analysis of two clinical cases underlines the importance of talking for these mothers who have been through disastrous experiences, which could lead to a post-traumatic stress disorder. Restoring a connection to outside reality thanks to psychological care in the acute post-trauma period helps these mothers take care of their child.

Effect of the Kangaroo Mother Method after Preterm Delivery on Maternal Stress and Anxiety in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The kangaroo mother method (KMM) may benefit infants and mothers in many ways. However, few studies focused on its efficacy on maternal anxiety and stress, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of the kangaroo mother method (KMM) on postnatal stress and anxiety in mothers of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cohort study of two groups of 56 mother-infant dyads recruited from a neonatal intensive care unit was conducted. Two groups were compared in terms of the mean duration of KMM during the twelve days of the study: the intervention group (mean duration of more than ninety minutes per day) and the control group (less than ninety minutes). Maternal stress was measured using the Parental Stressor: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) scale and STAI E/R questionnaire before and after intervention (KMM). Demographic and other maternal covariates were extracted from medical records. Daily NICU records were used to track the frequency and duration of KMM sessions. RESULTS: Mothers of the intervention group scored lower on the PSS: NICU and STAI E/R, although no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to research based on biological and physiological parameters in newborns or performed before the COVID-19 pandemic, the differences found in applying subjective scales in mothers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were not significant. Therefore, mothers' perception of physical contact with their preterm infants may not have been as positive due to their fear of transmitting COVID.

The Influence of Maternal Psychological Manifestations on the Mother-Child Couple during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Hospitals in Timisoara, Romania.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The postpartum maternal physical and psychological state played a fundamental role in the mother-child relationship at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study is to analyze the influence of maternal psychological manifestations on the mother-child couple through three objectives (briefly expressed): (I) Determination of the main acute and chronic conditions of newborns/infants. (II) Verification of the hypothesis of the existence of a link between the following neonatal variables: gestational age, birth weight, number of days of hospitalization, and specific neonatal therapies (oxygen, surfactant, and blood products' transfusion). (III) Verification of the influence of postpartum maternal psychological status on the mother-child couple through three hypotheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals in Timișoara, Romania, between 1 March and 1 September 2020, and included 165 mothers and their 175 newborns. Mothers answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Spielberger's Inventory of State-Trait Anxiety, and the Collins and Read Revised Adult Attachment Scale. RESULTS: (I) The acute and chronic pathology of the infants in the study group was polymorphic. (II) Large correlations were identified between the following infant variables: gestational age with birth weight, and number of hospitalization days with birth weight, gestational age, and use of blood product transfusion (all p < 0.001). (III) (1) State anxiety was the only significant predictor of number of hospitalization days (p = 0.037), number of acute disorders (p = 0.028), and number of infant chronic diseases (p = 0.037). (2) Maternal depressive symptoms were the only predictor of postpartum maternal attachment (p = 0.018). (3) Depressive symptoms, state, and trait anxiety were non-significant in all models studied (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum maternal physical and psychological state plays a fundamental role on the mother-child relationship in the new social and complex family conditions.

Depression, Anxiety, and Mother-Infant Bonding in Women Seeking Treatment for Postpartum Depression Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively affect maternal mental health and the mother-infant relationship. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression, anxiety, and mother-infant bonding among women seeking treatment for postpartum depression (PPD).Methods: Baseline data collected in two separate randomized controlled trials of a psychoeducational intervention for PPD in the same geographic region, one prior to COVID-19 (March 2019-March 2020) and one during the COVID-19 pandemic (April-October 2020), were compared. Eligible participants had an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of ≥ 10, were ≥ 18 years of age, had an infant < 12 months old, and were fluent in English. Outcomes included PPD (EPDS), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]), and mother-infant relationship (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire [PBQ]). All were measured continuously and dichotomized at accepted clinical cutoffs.Results: Of the 603 participants (305 pre-COVID-19; 298 during COVID-19), mothers enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher levels of symptoms of PPD (B = 1.35; 95% CI, 0.64 to 2.06; Cohen d = 0.31) and anxiety (B = 1.52; 95% CI, 0.72 to 2.32; Cohen d = 0.30). During COVID-19, women had 65% higher odds of clinically significant levels of depression symptoms (OR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.31) and 46% higher odds of clinically relevant anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in mother-infant bonding.Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that rates and severity of PPD and anxiety symptoms among women seeking treatment for PPD have worsened in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, treatment-seeking mothers have consistently maintained good relationships with their infants. Considering the difficulties women with PPD face when accessing treatment, it is important that strategies are developed and disseminated to safely identify and manage PPD to mitigate potential long-term adverse consequences for mothers and their families.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT03654261 and NCT04485000.

Examination of risk exposure models during COVID-19 in relation to youth life satisfaction and internalizing symptoms.

This study examined mediation of a negative COVID-impact on the relationship between risk exposure, and life satisfaction and internalizing symptoms in youth (aged 9-18). Four operationalizations of risk exposure were applied; an Additive versus a Cumulative Risk Model (ARM and CRM), risk clusters and the most salient risk factors. Results showed that a stronger negative COVID-impact is related to lower life satisfaction, more internalizing symptoms and higher additive and cumulative risk. ARM and CRM's effect on lower life satisfaction is mediated through negative COVID-impact, though not for internalizing symptoms. Clusters of risk factors and risk factors within clusters significantly related to a stronger negative COVID-impact are the clusters 'Individual factors' (low self-control), 'Parenting' (negative mother-child interaction and low parental responsiveness), 'Maternal mental health' and 'Demographic factors' (low SES and high paternal education). From all significant risk factors, low self-control, low parental responsiveness, negative mother-child interaction and low SES were most salient.

Depression in Early Childhood.

According to data from the WHO, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an increase in anxiety and depression around the world. In particular, there has been an increase in Depressive Disorder in childhood: the closure of childcare centers has caused great stress in parents, especially in mothers who have developed more depressive disorders. Maternal depression appears to have created problematic behaviors in preschool children. This phenomenon is explained by several studies that over the years have shown that a good mother-child interaction is essential for the child's psychophysical health and that interactions with depressed mothers have caused depression in children already in early childhood. The purpose of this work is a review of the scientific literature, from 1927 to 2022, on depression in early childhood, from 0 to 5 years of age. Research has been carried out on Medline PubMed, Google Scholar and specialist scientific journals of psychiatry, psychology and child neuropsychiatry, using the following keywords: infant depression, anaclitic depression, hospitalism, early chilhood depression, depressive position, attachement and mother-infant dyad. The depressive illness of the mother, the lack of care, attention and stimulation to the vocalizations of the young child can induce negative reactions in the relationship between mother and child. Early identification and treatment of perinatal depression is critical to ensuring the child's optimal development and future mental health. In addition to maternal depression there are also other factors that can generate depression in the child as well as a prolonged separation from her. The authors' conclusions are that it is essential to train and inform educators and family members on depression in childhood to allow for the recognition of the child's suffering and for it to be examined by the doctor. It is important an early intervention both on the family and on the child to avoid relapses, chronicity and any serious damage.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on maternal psychological status, the couple's relationship and mother-child interaction: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: To compare the rate of postpartum depression (PPD) during the first COVID-19 lockdown with the rate observed prior to the pandemic, and to examine factors associated with PPD. METHODS: This was a prospective study. Women who gave birth during the first COVID-19 lockdown (spring 2020) were offered call-interviews at 10 days and 6-8 weeks postpartum to assess PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Post-traumatic symptoms (Perinatal Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire, PPQ), couple adjustment, and interaction and mother-to-infant bonding were also evaluated. The observed PPD rate was compared to the one reported before the pandemic. Factors associated with an increased risk of PPD were studied. The main outcome measures were comparison of the observed PPD rate (EPDS score > 12) to pre-pandemic rate. RESULTS: Of the 164 women included, 27 (16.5% [95%CI: 11.14-23.04]) presented an EPDS score > 12 either at 10 days or 6-8 weeks postpartum. This rate was similar to the one of 15% reported prior to the pandemic (p = 0.6). Combined EPDS> 12 or PPQ > 6 scores were observed in 20.7% of the mothers [95%CI: 14.8-0.28]. Maternal hypertension/preeclampsia (p = 0.007), emergency cesarean section (p = 0.03), and neonatal complications (p = 0.008) were significantly associated with an EPDS> 12 both in univariate and multivariate analysis (OR = 10 [95%CI: 1.5-68.7], OR = 4.09[95%CI: 1.2-14], OR = 4.02[95%CI: 1.4-11.6], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of major PPD in our population did not increase during the first lockdown period. However, 20.7% of the women presented with post-traumatic/depressive symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04366817.

Effect of the Covid 19 pandemic on depression and mother-infant bonding in uninfected postpartum women in a rural region.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression and maternal-infant attachment scores were examined in uninfected women during the COVID 19 pandemic in Kutahya, a rural province in Turkey's North Aegean region. METHODS: This cohort study was conducted in the Kutahya Health Sciences University Hospital obstetrics unit between April 2021 and August 2021. 178 low-risk term pregnant women who gave birth were given the surveys Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBQ) 6 weeks after birth. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale was used to determine postpartum depression and the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale was used to determine maternal attachment. RESULTS: In this study, the postpartum depression rate was calculated as 17.4%. When depressed and non-depressed patients were compared, education level, maternal age, BMI, MIBQ score, history of previous pregnancies, route of delivery, previous operation history, economic status, employment status and pregnancy follow-up information were found to be similar (p > 0.05). The ratings on the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale were found to be similar in depressed and non-depressed patients (p > 0.05). The odds of maternal depression for patients who received guests at home was 3.068 (95%CI [1.149-8.191]) times the odds of patients who did not receive guests at home. CONCLUSIONS: Although a relationship has been found between accepting guests in the postpartum period and postpartum depression, it is necessary to investigate in further studies whether there is a causal relationship.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dietary Patterns of Pregnant Women: A Comparison between Two Mother-Child Cohorts in Sicily, Italy.

A maternal diet, before and during pregnancy, plays a key role in ensuring maternal and newborn health. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, may have compromised dietary habits in the general population and in specific subgroups of individuals. Here, we evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the diet of pregnant women, using data from two mother-child cohorts in Sicily (Italy). Dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire and analyzed through the Mediterranean diet (MD) score and principal component analysis (PCA). The comparison of maternal dietary consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic showed differences in terms of vegetables (p < 0.001), fruit (p < 0.001), dairy products (p < 0.001), fish (p < 0.001), and legumes (p = 0.001). Accordingly, after adjusting for covariates, mothers enrolled during the pandemic were more likely to report low adherence to MD than those enrolled before (OR = 1.65; 95%CI = 1.12-2.42; p = 0.011). A similar result was obtained by analyzing the adherence to a prudent dietary pattern, derived through PCA and characterized by high intake of cooked and row vegetables, legumes, fruit, fish, and soup. Overall, these findings suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced maternal diet during pregnancy. However, further efforts are needed to investigate the main causes and consequences of this change.

Improving Black adolescent daughter-single mother relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.: A brief exploration of participant experiences.

PURPOSE: Understand whether and how Black adolescent daughters' relationships with their single mothers could be strengthened through an intervention to address adverse experiences and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Five Black adolescent daughters of single mothers and five Black single mothers with adolescent daughters were interviewed during the pandemic who participated in a program designed to improve Black adolescent daughter-single mother relationships. RESULTS: Changes in work and school requirements impacted the daughter-mother relationship, with most respondents suggesting their relationships improved during COVID-19 due to involvement in this program. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the stress and strain of COVID-19, involvement in similar programs can strengthen daughter-mother relationships.

Relationship between Mother's emotional intelligence, negative parenting behaviour, Preschooler's attachment instability, and smart device overdependence.

BACKGROUND: As smart device overdependence among preschoolers could adversely affect their overall development, it is essential to understand the related factors of such overdependence. Mothers have a large influence on preschoolers; however,, the relationship between mothers' emotional intelligence, negative parenting behaviour, preschoolers' attachment instability, and smart device overdependence remain unclear. This study aims to develop and test a structural model to explain smart device overdependence among preschoolers. METHODS: The study collects and analyses data from January to May 2021 from 283 mothers raising children aged 3-6 years in South Korea. Questionnaires regarding mothers' emotional intelligence and negative parenting behaviour, as well as preschoolers' attachment instability and smart device overdependence, were used to collect data. The data were analysed by SPSS23.0 and AMOS 23.0 software and a structural equation model was constructed; p ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: Mothers' emotional intelligence had a direct negative relationship with mothers' negative parenting behaviour (ß = - 0.44) and an indirect negative relationship with preschoolers' attachment instability (ß = - 0.25) and preschoolers' smart device overdependence (ß = - 0.24). Mothers' negative parenting behaviour had a direct positive relationship with preschoolers' attachment instability (ß = 0.56) and both direct and indirect positive relationships with preschoolers' smart device overdependence (ß = 0.55). Preschoolers' attachment instability had a direct positive relationship with preschoolers's smart device overdependence (ß = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Mothers' emotional intelligence, negative parenting behaviour, and preschoolers' attachment instability are associated with preschoolers' vulnerability to smart device overdependence. These results are shown that more attention is needed to these variables in order to reduce preschoolers' overdependence on smart devices. Additionally, we propose to develop and provide interventions based on these results.

COVID-19 related worry moderates the association between postpartum depression and mother-infant bonding.

The aim of this study was to ask whether a substantial external stressor, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, affects the association between postpartum depression (PPD) and mother-infant bonding. Specifically, we aimed to determine whether worry regarding such an external threat differentially affected PPD and bonding by analyzing a longitudinal sample of postpartum women assessed before and during the pandemic. One-hundred forty women responded to online questionnaires at (T1) Pre-COVID-19: Six months postpartum (February 2018 to December 2019), and (T2) During COVID-19: Twenty-one months postpartum (April 2020 to January 2021). The strength of correlation between mother-infant bonding and PPD significantly declined from before (T1: R = 0.64, p < 0.00) to during the pandemic (T2: R = 0.44, p < 0.001; Difference = 0.20, p = 0.05). Furthermore, only PPD correlated with the worry due to the pandemic; thus the PPD-bonding association was weaker among women who were less concerned about the pandemic (F(3, 136) = 15.4, R2 = 0.25). The study suggests that emotions and cognitions related to motherhood, such as mother-infant bonding, may be more resilient to external pressures such as a pandemic than affective states such as PPD. (174 words).

Resilience in mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought immense psychological pressure and disruptions to daily life for all individuals, and particularly children, parents, and families. Despite these difficulties, parents are able to show resilience through adaptive coping and positive parenting behaviors. Although there is robust research on resilience in children, very little research has tested predictors of parental resilience. The present study presents descriptive information about mothers' pandemic-related stressors and positive changes and then tests whether prepandemic maternal well-being and child effortful control predicted mothers' resilient parental outcomes (positive behavior and coping) through the mediators of maternal self-compassion, adherence to family routines, and child coping. The sample comprised 95 mothers (95.38% European American, 3.2% African American, and 1.1% Asian American) with a mean age of 38.21 years (SD = 5.71 years, Range = 25.72-51.60 years) and education ranging from a high school to an advanced degree (M = 16.26 years, SD = 2.28 years, Range = 12-21 years). Results revealed that prepandemic maternal well-being predicted adaptive coping both directly and indirectly through self-compassion. Children's effortful control predicted maternal adaptive coping indirectly through children's own adaptive coping, and predicted mothers' positive parenting behaviors directly. Posthoc models revealed adherence to routines to be a correlate and outcome, rather than predictor, of positive parenting and bidirectional relations between parent and child coping. This study provides evidence for parent, child, and family-level factors related to parental resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Infants' and toddlers' digital media use and mothers' mental health: A comparative study before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study compared children's and mothers' digital media use and mothers' mental health in two samples: one accessed before (Group 1; N = 257; M = 33.18 years; SD = 4.79) and the other accessed during (Group 2; N = 256; M = 33.51 years; SD = 4.96) the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Mothers of children up to 3 years old (Group 1: M = 17.95 months, SD = 9.85; Group 2: M = 16.48 months, SD = 10.15) answered an online survey. Bivariate analysis, factorial ANOVA tests, and multiple linear regression were performed. Results suggest that mothers' and children's media use duration was higher during the pandemic only among children over 12 months. Mothers' media use duration (ß = .18) and mothers' intention to offer media (ß = .23) contributed to the explanation of children's media use duration (F(4, 474) = 16.81; p < .001; R2  = .12; R2 adjusted = .117). Higher mothers' common mental disorders symptoms were also positively correlated to mothers' intention to offer media to children both before and during the pandemic. Results suggest that interventions focusing on infants and toddlers screen time reduction should target maternal aspects such as mental health, maternal screen time, and intention to offer media, taking into account the mothers' needs when planning these actions.

Este estudio comparó el uso de los medios digitales por parte de los niños y las madres con la salud mental de las madres en dos grupos muestra: uno al cual se tuvo acceso antes (Grupo 1: N = 257; M = 33.18 años; SD = 4.79) y el otro al cual se tuvo acceso durante (Grupo 2; N = 256; M = 33.51 años; SD = 4.96) la pandemia del COVID-19 en Brasil. Las madres de niños de hasta tres años (Grupo 1: M = 17.95 meses, SD = 9.85; Grupo 2: M = 16.48 meses, SD = 10.15) respondieron una encuesta electrónica. Los análisis bivariados los exámenes factoriales ANOVA, así como múltiples regresiones lineales se llevaron a cabo. Los resultados indican que la duración de uso de los medios por parte de las madres y los niños fue más alta durante la pandemia sólo entre niños de más de 12 meses. La duración de uso de los medios por parte de las madres (ß = 0.18) y la intención de las madres de ofrecer los medios (ß = 0.23) contribuyeron a explicar la duración de uso de los medios por parte de los niños (F(4,474) = 16,81; p < .001; R2 = .12; R2 ajustado = .117). Más altos síntomas de trastornos mentales comunes en las madres se correlacionaron también positivamente con la intención de las madres de ofrecer los medios a los niños tanto antes como durante la pandemia. Los resultados indican que las intervenciones enfocadas en reducir el tiempo frente a la pantalla de infantes y niños pequeñitos deben dirigirse a los aspectos maternos como la salud mental, el tiempo de la madre frente a la pantalla, así como la intención de ofrecer los medios, tomando en cuenta las necesidades de las madres cuando se planeen estas acciones.

Cette étude a comparé l'utilisation des médias numériques des enfants et des mères et la santé mentale des mères chez deux échantillons: l'un accédé avant la pandémie du Covid-19 (Groupe 1; N = 257; M = 33,18 ans; SD = 4,79) et l'autre accédé durant la pandémie du covid-19 (Groupe 2; N = 256; M = 33,51 ans; SD = 4,96) au Brésil. Les mères d'enfants jusqu'à l'âge de trois ans (Groupe 1: M = 17,95 mois, SD = 9,85; Groupe 2: M = 16,48 mois, SD = 10,15) ont répondu à un questionnaire en ligne. Une analyse à deux variables, des tests ANOVA factoriels, et une régression linéaire multiple ont été faits. Les résultats suggèrent que la durée de l'utilisation média des mères et des enfants a été plus élevée durant la pandémie uniquement pour les enfants de plus de 12 mois. La durée de l'utilisation média des mères (ß = 0,18) et l'intention des mères à offrir le média (ß = 0,23) a contribué à l'explication de la durée de l'utilisation média des enfants (F(4, 474) = 16,81; p <,001; R2 = ,12; R2 adjusté = ,117). Plus de symptômes communs de troubles mentaux des mères était aussi lié de manière positive à l'intention des mères d'offrir le média à la fois avant et durant la pandémie. Les résultats suggèrent que les interventions s'attachant à la réduction du temps d'écran des bébés et des petits enfants devraient cibler des aspects maternels comme la santé mentale, le temps d'écran maternel, et l'intention d'offrir le média, prenant en compte les besoins des mères en planifiant ces actions.

Mother and child hair cortisol during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations among physiological stress, pandemic-related behaviors, and child emotional-behavioral health.

The current study assessed the associations between pandemic-related stressors and physiological stress, as indexed by hair cortisol concentration (HCC), for mothers and their children (N = 180) aged 5-14-years old (M = 8.91). The associations between maternal HCC and children's HCC and children's behavioral adjustment were also examined. Mothers reported on COVID-19-related behaviors and children's adjustment, and both mother and child participants collected and mailed hair samples between August and November of 2020. Results indicated that higher maternal HCC was correlated with living in a more urban environment, job loss, working from home, exposure to pandemic-related news, and social isolation. Child HCC was correlated with family job loss and social isolation. Mother HCC and child HCC were significantly associated, and this association was moderated by child age; younger children's HCC was more strongly associated with mothers' HCC than older children's HCC. Finally, maternal HCC was associated with greater child internalizing symptoms, but was not associated with children's externalizing symptoms. Child HCC was not associated with child behavior.