Burtchen N, Alvarez-Segura M, Urben S, Giovanelli C, Mendelsohn AL, Guedeney A, Schechter DS. Effects of maternal trauma and associated psychopathology on atypical maternal behavior and infant social withdrawal six months postpartum.
Attach Hum Dev 2022;
24:1-27. [PMID:
36371796 DOI:
10.1080/14616734.2022.2142894]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Maternal psychopathology given a history of maltreatment and domestic violence exposure increases the risk for child psychopathology. Infant social withdrawal is one warning sign of adverse developmental outcomes including child anxiety and depression. It remains unclear how maternal trauma-related psychopathology might affect infant social withdrawal six-months postpartum.
METHODS
One-hundred ninety-five women and their six-month-old infants were studied in an at-risk community sample. Maternal trauma history, posttraumatic stress (PTSD) and major depressive (MDD) disorders were assessed. Maternal and infant behaviors were coded from videotaped interactions.
RESULTS
Maternal trauma was correlated with atypical maternal behavior (AMB) and infant social withdrawal (p ≤ .001). PTSD and MDD, and comorbid PTSD/MDD predicted increased AMB (p ≤ .001) but only maternal MDD was predictive of infant social withdrawal (p ≤ .001). Effects of maternal MDD on infant withdrawal were mediated by AMB.
CONCLUSIONS
At six-months postpartum, maternal MDD was associated with infant withdrawal. AMB is an important target for early intervention.
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