Postpartum Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Effect of Maternal Childhood Trauma on Maternal Sensitivity

• In Event: Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Women with histories of childhood trauma (maternal childhood trauma; MCT), as defined by experiences of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood, are at a greater risk for lower-quality mother-child interactions (Lang et al., 2010). MCT has been associated with less sensitive maternal behavior during mother-child interactions, marked by maternal difficulty recognizing children’s signals and responding in appropriate ways (Stok, 2018; CIB; Feldman, 1998). Women with a history of childhood trauma are at a greater risk of experiencing higher levels of postpartum depressive (PPD) symptoms (Choi et al., 2017; Muzik et al., 2012; Li et al., 2016). Given the well-documented association between PPD symptoms and impaired mother-child interactions (Lang et al., 2010), PPD symptoms may partially explain the effect of MCT on maternal sensitivity.

The current study evaluated the effect of MCT on maternal sensitivity via maternal PPD symptoms among a sample of low-income, Mexican American women (N = 322, Mage = 27.8 years), an understudied population in this literature. We hypothesized that maternal PPD symptoms would mediate the effect of MCT on maternal sensitivity. Specifically, higher levels of maternal childhood trauma were expected to predict less maternal sensitivity via higher levels of PPD symptoms. Women reported on experiences of childhood trauma at a prenatal home visit (CTQ; Bernstein, Hatch, Lewis, Medrano, & Thombsa, 2007) and PPD symptoms from 6 weeks to 6 months postpartum (EPDS; Cox, Holden, & Sagovsky, 1987). Maternal sensitivity was calculated as the composite of several observationally-coded maternal behaviors during videotaped mother-child interaction tasks at the 6-month home visit (Coding Interactive Behavior; Feldman, 1998): acknowledging, imitating, elaborating, joint attention, positive affect, vocal appropriateness, appropriate range of affect, resourcefulness, praising, affectionate touch, and parent supportive presence.

Preliminary analyses included descriptive statistics and correlations among primary study variables and covariates (see Table 1). Primary analyses evaluated a mediational model of the effect of MCT on maternal sensitivity via PPD symptoms, controlling for maternal country of birth, maternal age, and number of other children, in Mplus v. 8 (Muthén & Muthén, 1998-2017; see Table 2 for full results). Higher levels of MCT predicted higher levels of PPD symptoms (Est = 1.065, SE Est = 0.168, p < .001), which predicted less maternal sensitivity (Est = -0.003, SE Est = 0.001, p = .031). The direct effect of MCT on maternal sensitivity was not significant (p = .10). The indirect effect of MCT on maternal sensitivity via PPD symptoms was significant (Est = -0.003, SE Est = 0.002, p = .040).

Results supported our hypotheses. Higher PPD symptoms partially explained the effect of higher levels of MCT on less maternal sensitivity among a sample of low-income, Mexican American mothers. Prevention and intervention efforts targeting parenting behaviors among women with histories of childhood trauma may aim to reduce PPD symptoms. Given PPD symptoms and maternal sensitivity contribute to the intergenerational transmission of trauma and psychopathology (Goodman & Gotlib,1999), future research may extend the current mediational model to pathways of children’s socioemotional wellbeing.

Authors

• Taryn Henning, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Sarah Gianna Curci, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Juan Hernández, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Linda J. Luecken, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author