Maternal Adversity and Child Psychopathology in the First Years of Life: Parenting Difficulties as Mechanisms

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Children of mothers experiencing adversity, including mental health symptoms or a history of trauma, are more likely than their peers to experience mental and physical health problems in infancy and early childhood (McDonnell & Valentino, 2016). Impairments in parenting behavior, exhibited by some at-risk mothers (e.g., maltreated mothers; Savage et al., 2019), may be may be one potential mechanism. Therefore, this symposium builds on prior work by examining parenting behaviors as a mechanism by which mothers’ own experience of adversity is associated with their children’s health and adjustment.

The first paper explores associations between mothers’ mental health (e.g., posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms) and infant socioemotional and physical health problems, and explores maternal sensitivity as a possible mechanism. The second paper examines two measures of parenting behavior, disengagement and intrusiveness, as mediators of the effects of maternal alcohol dependence on child mental health. The final paper tests a developmental cascade by which mothers’ childhood maltreatment may predict their children’s adjustment via pathways involving higher cumulative risk and less warm/responsive parenting.

The discussant, an expert in the effects of maternal trauma and substance use on infant and early childhood development, will highlight the implications of these papers for prevention and public welfare policy. The discussant will also consider strategies for framing conversations based upon this research to shift discourse and garner support for effective policies. Identifying malleable contributors to poor child outcomes has the potential to inform interventions and policies that are effective, economical, and improve wellbeing across multiple generations.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chair

• Alex Busuito, Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)

Discussant

• Amanda Van Scoyoc, Yale School of Medicine

Individual Presentations

• Posttraumatic Stress in Pregnancy and Infant Socioemotional and Physical Health: The Role of Maternal Sensitivity - Presenting Author: Lindsay Huffhines, Brown University Medical School; Non-Presenting Author: Jesse L Coe, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Non-Presenting Author: Ronald Seifer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Non-Presenting Author: Stephanie H Parade, Brown University

• Parsing Alcohol-dependent Mothers’ Insensitivity to Child Distress: Longitudinal Links with Children’s Affective and Anxiety Problems - Presenting Author: Debrielle Teresa Jacques, University of Washington; Non-Presenting Author: Melissa L Sturge-Apple, University of Rochester; Non-Presenting Author: Patrick Davies, University of Rochester; Non-Presenting Author: Dante Cicchetti, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• From Mothers’ Childhood Maltreatment to Next Generation Adjustment: Developmental Cascades of Socioeconomic Risk and Parenting - Presenting Author: Alex Busuito, Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)