Maternal Attachment and Perinatal Health in Refugee Women: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In the general population, a relationship between maternal mental health and maternal attachment has been identified, but it has not been studied in depth in vulnerable populations like refugee women. This review aims to analyze the relationship between maternal attachment and mental health in postpartum refugee women and to propose a conceptual framework for understanding these interactions. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, using search terms such as “attachment”, “bonding”, “mental health”, “post-traumatic stress”, “depression”, “anxiety”, and “refugee women”. The search was conducted between September and October 2023 in Scopus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, and their results were systematically synthesized to identify patterns and limitations. Results: Of the 455 studies identified, only 9 met the inclusion criteria. The analysis reveals a complex relationship between maternal mental health and maternal attachment. Although four studies (n = 4) found no significant relationships between maternal mental health and attachment styles, others identified negative correlations between secure attachment and symptoms of post-traumatic stress (n = 2) or depression (n = 2), highlighting the influence of maternal psychological well-being on the bond with the infant. Conclusions: The findings suggest that post-traumatic symptoms play a key role in shaping the relationship between maternal attachment and mental health. Consequently, psychosocial interventions focusing on maternal attachment could help prevent difficulties in mother–infant interactions and improve gestational health, thus supporting the development of the maternal role in refugee populations.