Effect of ethnic origin and newborn gender on mother–infant bonding

Background: Fetal gender has been shown to influence pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Adequate mother–infant bonding may have a positive effect on maternal and child's mental health further reducing the risk for maternal depressive symptoms and child's psychopathology. Objective: We aimed to assess the association between newborn gender and mother–infant bonding in the Arab Bedouin women in comparison to the Jewish population residing in the same area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on women who delivered singletons during bonding questionnaire (PBQ). A second analysis of the four sub-scales of the PBQ questionnaire was conducted. The risk for post-partum depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire. Self-reported questionnaires were administered to obtain sociodemographic data and additional information was drawn from women’s medical records. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to control for potential confounders. Results: The final analysis included 218 women, of whom 98 (44.9%) were of Bedouin origin and 120 (55.1%) were of Jewish origin. While total PBQ score was significantly lower among Bedouin women delivering male infants compared to female infants, demonstrating better mother–infant bonding (8.8 ± 3.8 vs. 15.1 ± 9.5, p = 0.010), no difference was found in the total PBQ score between Jewish women delivering male or female infants. Multivariable linear regression models controlling for maternal age, primiparity, and EPDS score demonstrated better mother–infant bonding when delivering a male infant compared to female infant among the Bedouin women (Beta 5.86, 95% CI 1.80–9.90, p = 0.006). Among Jewish women, no independent association was found between infant gender and mother–infant bonding. Conclusion: Better mother–infant bonding was found among Bedouin women delivering male infants compared to females. Modernization is challenging the Bedouins’ patriarchal society; therefore, attempts to strengthen mother–infant bonding of the female gender are to be considered.