The relationship of reflective functional skills and attachment pattern of pregnancy women with postpartum depression and mother-baby interaction

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a serious mental health problem that affects the newborn and all family members, along with significant deterioration in the functionality and quality of life of the mother. Early recognition and treatment of PPD is important in order to prevent complications that may occur in the baby along with the mortality that may occur in the mother. Various biological, hormonal and psychosocial factors have been suggested in the etiology of PPD. It is known that effective dynamics in the interpersonal relations of the individual are also effective in the development of PPD.The mentalization capacity, which is defined as the ability to evaluate oneself and others, not only according to the behaviors and their apparent results, but also by considering the mental states behind these behaviors (emotion, request, desire, belief), and the attachment patterns that emerge as a result of interaction with attachment figures. It is thought that it may be determinant for the quality of current relations. In this study, women during pregnancy; We aimed to investigate the relationship between mentalization skills, prenatal attachment characteristics, and adult attachment styles with postpartum depression and mother-infant interaction. 84 pregnant women who applied to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic for outpatient follow-up and treatment were included in the study. Sociodemographic and Clinical Evaluation Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Parental Internal Thinking Functioning Scale (EIDIO), Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PSI), Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory II (ERI) were used during pregnancy. 53 participants who could be reached between 2-8 weeks postpartum; Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Mother-Infant Attachment Scale (ABBI), and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EDSS) were administered. As a result of our study; It has been determined that low marriage age, unplanned pregnancy, and more than one child increase the risk of depression during pregnancy. Low mentalization capacity and high scores of anxious and avoidant attachment, which are subtypes of insecure attachment, were associated with the risk of PPD in pregnant women. When regression analysis was performed according to the groups categorized as prenatal and postnatal, it was determined that the factor that best predicted postpartum depression was mentalization capacity. More studies are needed to determine the role of mentalization skills and attachment styles in the development of postpartum depression in more detail and to understand their relationship with mother-infant interaction.