Poster #49 - Maternal experiences of trauma predict externalizing behavior problems in children to mothers with mild ID

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Developmental Disabilities

Integrative Statement

Background: Mothers with mild ID and their children constitute a joint high-risk group; ID-mothers for caregiving problems, their children for maladaptive development, and the families for child removals (Schuengel et al., 2013/2017). Research has moreover documented that law, healthcare and social service professionals often harbor highly negative perceptions toward parenting in the context of ID (Aunos & Feldman, 2002), and that parents with ID are treated harshly, in custody trials involving involuntary removal of their children, even discriminated against (Booth et al., 2005). Yet, there is substantial lack of knowledge on (1) distinct aspects of caregiving, (2) distinct aspects of child development, and (3) influencing factors on different levels (endogenous, contextual; Granqvist et al., 2014; Lindberg et al., 2016). These knowledge gaps limit scientific understanding and professionals’ ability to provide adequate support (e.g., McConnell et al., 2011).
Method: The present study therefore examined (I) maternal sensitivity in 26 mothers with documented mild ID (a laboratory observational protocol consisting of four sub-episodes, coded by coders blind to ID-status; Ainsworth [1974] sensitivity scales), externalizing behavior problems in their 5-8 year old children (maternal ratings), and endogenous (maternal and child IQ; WAIS and Leiter-brief) and contextual factors (e.g., maternal experience of abuse trauma and maltreatment; a semi-structured interview, transcribed, subsequently coded by coders blinded to ID status). The study also used a control group of mothers with IQ in the normal range and their children matched for socio-economic factors and child age and gender.
Results: Sensitivity was lower in the ID-mothers (M = 4.33, SD = .83) than the comparison mothers (M = 5.61, SD = .61), t(45) = -6.05, p < .000, d = 1.78). Externalizing behavior problems was also higher in children to ID-mothers (M = .43, SD = .32) than in the comparison-group children (M = .20, SD = .21), t(45) = 3.09, p < .001, d = .89. However, maternal experience of abuse, trauma, and maltreatment was also significantly more common in mothers with mild ID, where almost all mothers were coded as having experienced at least one trauma (90%), than in the comparison mothers (30%). ID-mother´s observed sensitivity was strongly associated with their ratings of externalizing problems in their children (r = -.67, p < .001). However, whereas maternal experience of abuse was associated with both maternal sensitivity (r = -.43, p <. 05) and children´s externalizing problems (r = .42, p <. 05), maternal intelligence was not (ps >.10).
Conclusion: The present findings suggest that children to mothers with ID are at elevated risk for externalizing behavior problems. However, rather than constituting an effect of maternal ID per se, our findings suggest that particular attention must be paid to contextual factors such as maternal experience of abuse and maltreatment.

Authors

• Tommie Forslund, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University
  Presenting Author

• Mårten Hammarlund, Stockholm University, Department of Psychology
  Non-Presenting Author

• Pehr Granqvist, Stockholm University, Department of Psychology
  Non-Presenting Author