Comparison of mental health and mother–child bonding between mothers of children with and without developmental delay

Caregivers of children with developmental delay (DD) may be at risk of mental disorders, and mother–child bonding levels likely differ from those observed in mothers of well-developed children. This study aimed to compare the mental health and mother–child bonding levels between mothers of well-developed children and mothers of children affected with DD. This case-control study was conducted in 2022 on 150 mothers of under five years old children with DD referred to the development center (case group) and 150 mothers of well-developed children referred to Tabriz health centers (control group). The case group was sampled through convenience sampling and the control group through the random sampling method. Both case and control groups were matched in terms of child age. Data was collected by interviewing the participants using a socio-demographic information questionnaire, Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and mother–child bonding questionnaire used as data collection instruments. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables, there was no longer a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of social dysfunction (B (95 % CI): −0.6 (−1.3 to 0.01), P = 0.052), but, the difference in care anxiety between the two groups was statistically significant (B (95 % CI): 0.6 (0.01 to 1.2), P = 0.047). There is no difference in mental health status in mothers of children with DD than in mothers of well-developed children, but caregiver anxiety is probably higher in mothers of children with DD. Future studies using different methods in this area are warranted.