Mother-infant attachment and child psychopathology: insights from the growing up in Scotland cohort

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mother-infant attachment and child psychopathology: insights from the growing up in Scotland cohort

AU - Rasmussen, Ida Scheel

AU - Auyeung, Bonnie

AU - Wilson, Philip

AU - Marryat, Louise

N1 - © The Author(s) 2025

PY - 2025/7/16

Y1 - 2025/7/16

N2 - It may be possible to identify infants at risk of developing behavioural problems and to intervene early to improve outcomes. Atypical mother-infant attachment could be one indicator of risk. The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between self-assessed mother-infant attachment and the offspring´s behavioural problems in childhood and early adolescence. This study was based on data from the first Growing up in Scotland (GUS) birth cohort (n = 2225). Mother-infant attachment was assessed with the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale 10 months postnatally and child mental well-being was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire collected when the child was 7–8 years, 10–11 years and 12 years old. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between mother-infant attachment and mental health. Weaker reported mother-infant bonds were associated with later higher risk of child problems in most SDQ subscales at ages 7–8 and 10–11. For boys, some risks persisted until age 12, while all associations faded for girls. The study confirms a link between maternally reported weak attachment and behavioural problems, with the strongest effects in boys.

AB - It may be possible to identify infants at risk of developing behavioural problems and to intervene early to improve outcomes. Atypical mother-infant attachment could be one indicator of risk. The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between self-assessed mother-infant attachment and the offspring´s behavioural problems in childhood and early adolescence. This study was based on data from the first Growing up in Scotland (GUS) birth cohort (n = 2225). Mother-infant attachment was assessed with the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale 10 months postnatally and child mental well-being was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire collected when the child was 7–8 years, 10–11 years and 12 years old. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between mother-infant attachment and mental health. Weaker reported mother-infant bonds were associated with later higher risk of child problems in most SDQ subscales at ages 7–8 and 10–11. For boys, some risks persisted until age 12, while all associations faded for girls. The study confirms a link between maternally reported weak attachment and behavioural problems, with the strongest effects in boys.

KW - Mother-infant attachment

KW - behavioural difficulties

KW - children’s mental health

KW - adolescent’s mental health

KW - Adolescents’ mental health

KW - Children’s mental health

KW - Behavioural difficulties

U2 - 10.1007/s10578-025-01885-5

DO - 10.1007/s10578-025-01885-5

M3 - Article

C2 - 40668469

SN - 0009-398X

JO - Child Psychiatry and Human Development

JF - Child Psychiatry and Human Development

ER -