Bonding between a mother and her newborn is often seen as the cornerstone of early development. Yet for some women, it can be unexpectedly difficult.
A new study from Japan reveals that mother-to-infant bonding difficulties (MIBD) are far more widespread than previously thought, and not confined to mothers with postnatal depression.
Led by Ms. Hitomi Inano of the University of Toyama, with collaborators from Aomori University of Health and Welfare and the Faculty of Medicine at Toyama, the team analyzed data from 64,938 mother–child pairs registered between 2011 and 2014 in a nationwide birth cohort study called the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). Using the Japanese version of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS-J), they found:
Among mothers without postnatal depression, the prevalence was 7.7%, accounting for nearly half of all cases; 3.9% showed signs of lack of affection; 11.7% reported anger or rejection feelings toward their infants. Signs of anger or rejection (51.8%) were more common than lack of affection (38.2%).
Study says, postnatal depression impacts children’s development
The researchers examined 30 variables across maternal, child, lifestyle, psychological, and social factors. The strongest associations were:
Difficulty holding a fussy baby (3.45 times higher risk of MIBD); Negative or neutral feelings about pregnancy (2.42 times higher risk); Low social support, which increased the likelihood of bonding difficulties.
On the other hand, high social support was a protective factor, reducing the risk of MIBD by 55%.
MIBD has been linked to developmental delays, inappropriate child-rearing, and even child abuse.
Mothers who engage in baby massage report lower symptoms of postnatal depression
“Maternal bonding difficulties are likely involved in the steadily increasing incidence of child abuse and developmental disorders in recent years,” Ms. Inano noted.
Crucially, mothers without postnatal depression are often overlooked. “Mothers with bonding difficulties who screen negative for postnatal depression are unlikely to be identified by healthcare professionals and are therefore often overlooked as potential recipients of support,” she said.
The findings show that bonding problems are not just an issue for mothers with postnatal depression. Emotional reactions to pregnancy, daily caregiving challenges, and whether social support is available all play an important role. Understanding these factors can help shape interventions that strengthen maternal support systems. This allows healthcare providers to spot mothers who are at greater risk and offer focused advice and support to ease the immediate challenges of becoming a parent.
Ms. Inano hopes these results will lead to timely and usable in-person support for mothers that enhances safe mother-infant bonding, and leads to healthier childhood development.
Journal Reference:
- Hitomi Inano, Kenta Matsumura, Akiko Tsuchida, Hidekuni Inadera, Kanako Shimada, Tomomi Hasegawa & the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group. Factors associated with mother-to-infant bonding difficulties without prior postnatal depression at 1 and 6 months after childbirth: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). Archives of Women’s Mental Health. DOI: 10.1007/s00737-026-01726-x
