The impact of postnatal depression can even harm your ability to bond with your future grandchildren.

Dr. Sarah Myers and a team from the University of Kent surveyed 305 mothers from the UK and US, who were an average of 60 years old. Each of the women had an average of 2.2 children, who are currently between the ages of 8 and 48, and many of the women also had grandkids.

Dr. Myers found that women who reported having symptoms of postpartum depression after the births of their kids also reported lower-quality relationships with all of their children, especially the kids who “triggered” their depression.

The more severe the symptoms of depression were, the more strained their relationships with their kids were, even into adulthood. And participants who had grandkids reported feeling less emotionally close with their grandchildren as well.

Relationships with grandchildren were of lower emotional closeness when the birth of the grandchild’s parent was associated with PND

A spokesperson for the University of Kent says Dr. Myers and her team “hope the findings will encourage the ongoing development and implantation of preventative measures to combat PND [postnatal depression]” and “not only improve mother-child relationships, but also future grandmother-grandchild relationships.”

Full study HERE.

If you or someone you know may be suffering from postpartum depression or anxiety, you can reach out to PANDA Call 1300 726 306 

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