Maternal attachment insecurity is a potent predictor of depressive symptoms in the early postnatal period

•Insecurely attached women have more symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) than the securely attached.•Insecure attachment is a greater risk factor than other personality traits implicated in PPD.•The relationship between attachment insecurity and PPD is specific to the early postpartum.•Assessing attachment style in pregnancy may be of use for predicting depression in the early postpartum.