To examine whether depressive symptoms mediate the association between family functioning and antenatal maternal attachment.
Key Findings:
Higher family functioning was associated with lower depressive symptom severity.
Depressive symptoms negatively affected attachment quality but not intensity of preoccupation.
A small indirect effect of family functioning on attachment quality was found, mediated by depressive symptoms.
Intensity of preoccupation was directly positively associated with family functioning.
Interpretation:
Depressive symptoms partially mediate the relationship between family functioning and the emotional quality of maternal–fetal attachment, while intensity of preoccupation is more directly linked to family dynamics.
Limitations:
The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences.
Self-report measures may introduce bias.
Conclusion:
Assessing family functioning during pregnancy is crucial, and interventions targeting family dynamics and maternal depressive symptoms may enhance prenatal attachment.
