Theoretical Foundations

In this section, we will review two theories that attempt to explain how maternal mental health can impact child development.

Attachment Theory

Attachment Theory originated with John Bowlby, who proposed that children are born with a predisposition to form emotional attachments to their caregivers (Bowlby, 1969). These attachments allow children to learn to regulate their emotions, build trust, and interact socially in healthy ways. If maternal mental health gets in the way of providing reliable care or emotional support, children may suffer as a result.

Studies have shown that when mothers experience depression, anxiety, and chronic stress, they may provide lower levels of responsiveness to their children, which can impact emotional development and future relationships. Attachment Theory can help us understand how early relationships with caregivers can impact development for years to come.

Biopsychosocial Model

The Biopsychosocial model of healthcare describes how three factors work together to influence development and overall well-being.

Engel’s (1977) Biopsychosocial Model shows that we cannot explain phenomena such as maternal mental health or child development with a single approach. Instead, many factors influence the outcome. Biological factors can include hormone changes, gene expression, or lack of sleep. Psychological factors may be things like stress, trauma, anxiety, or depression. Social factors can consist of one’s support system, financial stress, access to resources, and cultural background.

This model matters because it shows us that child development is not one-dimensional. A mother’s mental health, their child’s environment, and the experiences that they share all play a role in the developmental process and how childhood is experienced.

Why These Theories Matter

Between Attachment Theory and the Biopsychosocial model, we can begin to understand how maternal mental health is linked to early childhood development. Maternal mental health can impact how a child creates emotional attachments with their caregiver. This can also be seen through how our biological, psychological, and social systems are interconnected and informed by our environments and relationships.

Learning about how these things work allows us to have more empathy and understanding for mothers and children. It can also help us try to prevent many of these issues.