This study aims to
examine the correlations between adult attachment styles, PTSD following
childbirth, and bonding, in Saudi and British cultures. A total of 532 (408
Saudi and 124 British) new mothers were recruited online and from clinics.
These mothers completed the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS),
Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and Maternal Postnatal Attachment
Scale (MPAS) at 1–12 months post- partum (mean = 9.5 months). Spearman’s
Correlations reveal that insecure attachment (high attachment anxiety, low
closeness and low dependence scores) is related to PTSD symptoms following childbirth. Women who experience
these PTSD symptoms have a poorer quality of bonding with their babies. In
terms of mother-infant bonding, lower absence of hostility and poorer quality
of attachment, are associated with experiencing PTSD symptoms following birth.
These results emerged in both the Saudi and British samples. These
findings have clinical implications that
support the need for improved prenatal screening for attachment style in order
to tailor the birth experience accordingly and thus, promote mother- infant
bonding.
