How family functioning shapes prenatal bonding: a mediation analysis of depressive symptoms and maternal–fetal attachment (opens in new tab)

ObjectivePregnancy is a period in a woman’s life characterized by profound hormonal, psychological, and social changes, which may lead to increased emotional vulnerability, during which depressive symptoms may negatively affect maternal well-being and maternal–fetal attachment. Although family functioning has traditionally been examined mainly in relation to psychopathology, its protective role during pregnancy remains insufficiently explored. This study examined whether depressive symptoms m...