1-195 - The impact of maternal trauma exposure and caregiving among low-income, ethnic minority infants and preschoolers

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Maternal stress and trauma have robust associations with a wide variety of negative offspring outcomes during infancy and early childhood, increasing risk for maladaptation later on. Women living in economic disadvantage and those of ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to experience interpersonal violence, poverty-related stressors, and discrimination/acculturation stress (e.g., Crouch et al., 2000;). They also are less likely to access resources to support their caregiving (Chow et al., 2003). Research has frequently shown that problematic parenting contributes to children’s maladaptation (Schwerdtfeger et al., 2013). In contrast, the studies included in this symposium examine specific caregiving factors that have protective effects for infants and preschoolers in low-income and/or minority families. They show maternal breastfeeding, positive verbalizations, changes in attachment-based interactional patterns, and participation in a short-term group intervention during pregnancy can enhance early child functioning. Results suggest significant heterogeneity in caregiving outcomes among women who have experienced stress and trauma and extend previous research through the use of longitudinal designs, multi-method assessment, and ethnically and culturally diverse participants. Findings point to multiple routes for multidisciplinary prevention and intervention efforts to support women and young children in the face of stress and trauma.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chair

• Cecilia Martinez-Torteya, Universidad de Monterrey

Individual Presentations

• Breastfeeding continuation at 6-weeks postpartum remediates the negative effects of prenatal IPV on infant temperament - Presenting Author: Laura Miller-Graff, University of Notre Dame; Non-Presenting Author: Caroline Scheid, University of Notre Dame

• Intervention with Violence-Exposed Women during the Prenatal Period Improves the Functioning of their Infants - Presenting Author: Kathryn Howell, University of Memphis; Non-Presenting Author: Laura Miller-Graff, University of Notre Dame

• Understanding Contextual Variables in Relation to Stability and Instability of Disrupted Parenting - Presenting Author: Jessica Riggs, Eastern Michigan University; Non-Presenting Author: Heather C. Janisse, Eastern Michigan University

• Maternal positive verbalizations moderate the effect of acculturative stress on preschoolers internalizing problems - Presenting Author: Cecilia Martinez-Torteya, Universidad de Monterrey; Non-Presenting Author: Caleb Figge, DePaul University; Non-Presenting Author: David Kosson, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science