Perinatal anxiety and parent-infant interactions
Perinatal anxiety can have a significant impact on early mother/parent–infant interactions by shaping how parents perceive and emotionally experience their baby. Extensive research shows that psychological distress during pregnancy and the postnatal period is associated with changes in parents’ internal representations of their infants as captured using a measure called the Mothers Object Relations Scale (MORS).
The MORS tools assess two key dimensions of the parent–infant relationship: warmth (the extent to which the infant is perceived as affectionate and emotionally engaging) and invasion (the extent to which the infant is perceived as intrusive, demanding, or overwhelming). Elevated perinatal anxiety has been linked to lower perceived warmth and higher perceived invasion, reflecting more negative or distorted views of the infant.
These altered perceptions can influence day-to-day interactions. Anxious parents may struggle to respond sensitively and consistently to their infant’s cues, which can impact interactions that foster secure attachment. Over time, these interaction patterns may contribute to difficulties in infant emotional regulation and socio-emotional development.
The MORS website highlights the value of assessing parent–infant relationships alongside parental mental health. Using tools such as MORS-SF can support early identification of relational difficulties associated with perinatal anxiety and guide interventions aimed at strengthening parent–infant relationships.
Further information about the MORS measure and research exploring parent-infant interactions is available at www.morscales.org.