When loss speaks louder than depression: previous early pregnancy loss as a stronger predictor of mother-infant dyadic disruption.

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) disrupts early mother-infant synchrony, a key determinant of healthy socio-emotional development. The relational impact of prior early pregnancy loss (EPL) remains largely underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

This exploratory cross-sectional study examined the independent and combined effects of PPD severity and prior EPL on mother-infant synchrony.

METHOD: Ninety-six mother-infant dyads, recruited from a population vulnerable to depressive symptoms, were assigned to a control group or to one of three PPD severity groups (mild, moderate, severe). Dyadic synchrony was assessed using the CARE-Index, and EPL history was recorded. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regressions evaluated the effects of PPD severity and EPL on low synchrony.

RESULTS

EPL significantly predicted low synchrony (OR = 7.50, 95% CI [1.16-48.36], p = 0.034), independently of PPD severity. Although depressive symptoms showed no overall significant effect (p = 0.123), a severity-response trend emerged: mild (OR = 3.06, p = 0.09), moderate (OR = 3.57, p = 0.06), severe (OR = 7.50, p = 0.01). No interaction between EPL and PPD was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Prior EPL appears to have lasting effects on mother-infant synchrony, independent of current depressive severity. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.