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Somers K, Spruit A, Stams GJ, Vandevelde S, Lindauer R, Assink M. Identifying effective moderators of cognitive behavioural trauma treatment with caregiver involvement for youth with PTSD: a meta-analysis. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:2067-2081. [PMID: 36178528 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-02088-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Children can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health symptoms after traumatic events. This meta-analysis evaluated the influence of moderators of cognitive behavioural trauma treatment (CBTT) with caregiver involvement in traumatized children. A total of 28 studies were included, with 23 independent samples and 332 effect sizes, representing the data of 1931 children (M age = 11.10 years, SD = 2.36). Results showed a significant medium overall effect (d = 0.55, t = 2.478, p = 0.014), indicating CBTT with caregiver involvement was effective in treating PTSD (d = 0.70), with somewhat smaller effect sizes for internalizing, externalizing, social, cognitive and total problems (0.35 < d > 0.48). The positive treatment effect was robust; we found somewhat smaller effect sizes at follow-up (d = 0.49) compared to post-test (d = 0.57) assessments. Furthermore, several sample (i.e. child's age, gender, and trauma event), programme (i.e. the duration of treatment, number of sessions), study (i.e. control condition, type of instrument, informant, type of sample), and publication (i.e. publication year and impact factor) characteristics moderated the treatment outcomes of the child. In sum, the results of our meta-analysis might help to improve the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural trauma treatment for youth with PTSD, and guide the development of innovative trauma interventions that involve caregivers. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Somers
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Anouk Spruit
- Basic Trust, Specialists in Attachment and Trauma, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Jan Stams
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stijn Vandevelde
- Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ramon Lindauer
- Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Academic Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Assink
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Sadeh Y, Graham L, Curtis M, Janson M, Kim J, Schwartz A, Undset A, Denejkina A. Posttraumatic stress and depression symptom classes in parents of trauma-exposed children: a transdiagnostic perspective using pooled individual participant data. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2299194. [PMID: 38197328 PMCID: PMC10783838 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2299194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: In the aftermath of child trauma, post-traumatic stress (PTS) and depression symptoms often co-occur among trauma exposed children and their parents. Studies have used latent class analysis (LCA) to examine PTS and depression symptoms and identify homogeneous subgroups among trauma exposed children. However, little is known about subgroups or classes of PTS and depression reactions of parents of traumatised children.Objectives: (1) Determine PTS and depression symptom classes at 2-9 months post-trauma, and (2) to examine sociodemographic covariates among parents of trauma exposed children.Methods: Using harmonised individual participant data (n = 702) from eight studies (Australia, UK, US) included in the Prospective studies of Acute Child Trauma and Recovery Data Archive (PACT/R), we modelled these phenomena at the symptom level using LCA.Results: Our LCA yielded three solutions: 'high internalizing symptom' class (11%); 'low PTS-high depression' class (17%); and 'low internalizing symptom' class (72%). Parents of children in the 'low PTS-high depression' class were more likely to have children of older age and be part of an ethnic minority, compared to the 'low internalizing symptoms' class. Mothers were more likely to be in the 'high internalizing symptom' class compared to the 'low internalizing symptoms' class.Conclusions: These findings reveal a qualitative structure and relationship between depression and PTS symptoms that highlights the importance of assessing and targeting a broad range of internalising symptoms in post-trauma psychological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaara Sadeh
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leila Graham
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael Curtis
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melissa Janson
- Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Jeeeun Kim
- Soro Orot Institute, Inc. (Soro Orot Institute – Counselor Group for Counseling and Education of Multicultural and Social Justice Issues), Seoul, Korea
| | - Ashlyn Schwartz
- Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Public Health, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Andrea Undset
- Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Denejkina
- Translational Health Research Institute; YouthInsight, Sydney, Australia
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Foss S, Petty CR, Howell C, Mendonca J, Bosse A, Waber DP, Wright RJ, Enlow MB. Associations among maternal lifetime trauma, psychological symptoms in pregnancy, and infant stress reactivity and regulation. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1714-1731. [PMID: 35678173 PMCID: PMC9732151 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422000402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Maternal trauma has intergenerational implications, including worse birth outcomes, altered brain morphology, and poorer mental health. Research investigating intergenerational effects of maternal trauma on infant stress reactivity and regulation is limited. Maternal mental health during pregnancy may be a contributor: psychopathology is a sequela of trauma exposure and predictor of altered self-regulatory capacity in offspring of affected mothers. We assessed associations among maternal lifetime trauma and infant stress responsivity, mediated by psychological symptoms in pregnancy. Mothers reported lifetime trauma history and anxiety, depressive, and posttraumatic stress symptoms during pregnancy. At infant age 6 months, stress reactivity and regulation were assessed via maternal behavior ratings (Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised, IBQ-R) and behavioral (negative mood) and physiological (respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA) markers during a laboratory stressor (Still-Face Paradigm). Maternal trauma was directly associated with lower infant physiological regulation and indirectly associated with lower levels of both infant behavioral and physiological regulation via higher maternal anxiety during pregnancy. Maternal trauma was also indirectly associated with higher infant reactivity via higher maternal anxiety during pregnancy. Post hoc analyses indicated differential contributions of maternal prenatal versus postnatal anxiety to infant outcomes. Findings highlight potential contributory mechanisms toward maladaptive child stress response, which has been associated with poor behavioral, cognitive, and academic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Foss
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carter R. Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caroline Howell
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Juliana Mendonca
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abigail Bosse
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deborah P. Waber
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Kravis Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Al-Yagon M, Garbi L, Rich Y. Children's Resilience to Ongoing Border Attacks: The Role of Father, Mother, and Child Resources. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023; 54:1015-1026. [PMID: 35064393 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01303-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
To understand children's resilience to ongoing violent border attacks (low PTSD symptoms and internalizing/externalizing behavior problems, and high sense of coherence-SOC), this study examined a multidimensional model of protective resources. This model comprised factors at the family level (fathers'/mothers' coping strategies and SOC) and at the individual level (children's coping strategies and attachments with father/mother). Participants were 251 Israeli father-mother-child triads living near the border with Gaza (children ages 9-12 years). Preliminary analyses indicated children's prevalence of clinical PTSD was 6%. SEM analyses revealed the theoretical model's high fit with empirical data, χ2(1) = .00, p = .99, CFI = 1, TLI = 1, SRMR = .00, RMSEA = .00 [90% CI (.00, .00)]. More significant paths emerged between fathers' coping resources and children's resilience measures than for mothers' coping resources. Results also pinpointed the significant role of children's parental attachments and coping strategies. Discussion focused on the unique value of father, mother, and child risk/protective factors for explaining well-adjusted functioning among children living in conflict areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lior Garbi
- School of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yisrael Rich
- School of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Liu R, Zheng X, Wang Z, Zhou M, Weng J, Li YM, Chen X. COVID-19 symptoms and compliance: The mediating role of fundamental social motives. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1093875. [PMID: 37020914 PMCID: PMC10067610 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1093875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the compliance of infected individuals and the psychological process underlying compliance during pandemics is important for preventing and controlling the spread of pathogens. Our study investigated whether fundamental social motives mediate the relationship between having infectious disease and compliance. Methods An online survey was conducted in March 2020, during the severe phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in China to collect data from 15,758 participants. The survey comprised self-report questionnaires with items pertaining to current symptoms (COVID-19 symptoms, other symptoms or no symptoms), the Fundamental Social Motive Inventory, and measures of compliance. Correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and structural equation model were used for data analysis. Results The participants with COVID-19 symptoms had lower levels of compliance than those without symptoms, and their lower compliance was caused by a decrease in disease avoidance (indirect effect = -0.058, 95% CI = [-0.061, -0.056]) and familial motives (indirect effect = -0.113, 95% CI = [-0.116, -0.062]). Whereas exclusion concern (indirect effect = 0.014, 95% CI = [0.011, 0.017]) suppressed the effects of COVID-19 symptoms on compliance, the effect disappeared in the multiple mediation model, while those of disease avoidance and familial motives remained. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the critical role of disease avoidance and familial motives in promoting compliance with public health norms during pandemics and suggest that enhancing these motives may serve as an effective intervention strategy to mitigate noncompliance among potentially infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoting Liu
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xueying Zheng
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Mingjie Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Weng
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yan-mei Li
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuefeng Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
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Beebe B, Crown CL, Jasnow M, Sossin KM, Kaitz M, Margolis A, Lee SH. The vocal dialogue in 9/11 pregnant widows and their infants: Specificities of co-regulation. Infant Behav Dev 2023; 70:101803. [PMID: 36565493 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2022.101803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mothers who were pregnant and widowed on September 11, 2001, and their 4-6-month infants (in utero on 9/11) were filmed during face-to-face interaction and their vocal dialogues were examined via microanalysis. Mothers were White, well-educated, mean age 34.3 years, and far from the World Trade Center site on 9/11; infants were 4-6 months, half female. We examined the bi-directional, moment-by-moment co-regulation of the timing of vocal dialogue, and particularly turn taking, in mother-infant and stranger-infant interactions, with time-series models. We analyzed the contingent coordination of durations of (1) vocalizations of the turn-holder, and (2) switching-pauses at the moment of the turn exchange. The switching pause is an aspect of the rhythm of the turn-holder who, after taking a turn, yields the floor to the partner through the switching pause. Turn taking is the lynchpin of dialogue, and the bi-directional contingent coordination of the switching-pause regulates the turn exchange. Both partners showed signs of risk and resilience. The 9/11 mothers did not coordinate the timing of turn taking with their infants, a highly unusual finding. In contrast, the 9/11 infants did coordinate the timing of turn taking with their mothers, and with the "stranger," forms of resilience. We propose that the 9/11 mother's difficulty coordinating with the infant's turn taking rhythm is a mode of transmission of her trauma to the infant. This work expands our knowledge of the specificities of co-regulation in the context of the 9/11 trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Beebe
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | | | - K Mark Sossin
- Department of Psychology, Pace University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Marsha Kaitz
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Amy Margolis
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Sang Han Lee
- The Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
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Pernebo K, Almqvist K. Reduced Posttraumatic Stress in Mothers Taking Part in Group Interventions for Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence. VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS 2023; 38:130-147. [PMID: 36717191 DOI: 10.1891/vv-2021-0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated whether interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence combining parallel groups for children and mothers contribute to positive outcomes for partaking mothers. The study included 39 mothers in a long-term within-subject design without a control group in a Swedish naturalistic setting. Maternal psychological health was assessed pre- and posttreatment and at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. Mothers reported medium- to large-sized decrease in psychological symptoms, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress, postintervention (p = < .001 d = 0.45-0.96). During the follow-up period, sustained and further decrease of symptoms was reported (p = < .001 d = 0.58-1.60). Mothers also reported decreased exposure to violence. Results indicate that these child-focused programs have major and sustainable positive effects on mothers' psychological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Pernebo
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
- Department of Research and Development, Region Kronoberg, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Kjerstin Almqvist
- Department of Social and Psychological Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
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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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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Burtchen
- Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mar Alvarez-Segura
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Abat Oliba CEU University, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sébastien Urben
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Alan L Mendelsohn
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Antoine Guedeney
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Service, Hôpital Bichat-Claude
- Bernard Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Daniel S Schechter
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Powers A, Stevens JS, O’Banion D, Stenson A, Kaslow N, Jovanovic T, Bradley B. Intergenerational transmission of risk for PTSD symptoms in African American children: The roles of maternal and child emotion dysregulation. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA : THEORY, RESEARCH, PRACTICE AND POLICY 2022; 14:1099-1106. [PMID: 31894989 PMCID: PMC7329591 DOI: 10.1037/tra0000543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Emotion dysregulation is a transdiagnostic risk factor for many mental health disorders and develops in the context of early trauma exposure. Research suggests intergenerational risk associated with trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such that maternal trauma experiences and related symptoms can negatively impact child outcomes across development. The goals of the present study were to examine child and mother correlates of child PTSD symptoms and the unique roles of child and maternal emotion dysregulation in understanding child PTSD symptoms. METHOD Subjects included 105 African American mother-child dyads from an urban hospital serving primarily low-income minority individuals. RESULTS Correlational results showed that child trauma exposure, child emotion dysregulation, maternal depressive symptoms, maternal emotion dysregulation, and potential for maternal child abuse all were significantly associated with child PTSD symptoms (ps < 0.05). Hierarchical linear regression models revealed that child trauma exposure, maternal depression, and maternal abuse potential accounted for 29% of the variance in child PTSD symptoms (p < 0.001). Both child emotion dysregulation (Rchange² = 0.14, p < .001) and maternal emotion dysregulation (Rchange² = 0.04, p < .05) were significantly associated with child PTSD symptoms independent of other risk factors and potential for maternal abuse was no longer a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that maternal emotion dysregulation may be an important factor in influencing their child's PTSD symptoms above and beyond child-specific variables. Both maternal and child emotion dysregulation could be valuable treatment targets for improving maternal mental health and parenting behaviors and bolstering child health outcomes, thus reducing intergenerational transmission of risk associated with trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Jennifer S. Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - David O’Banion
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Anais Stenson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University
| | - Nadine Kaslow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
- Atlanta VA Medical Center
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Portnoy J, Bedoya A, Wong KKY. Child externalising and internalising behaviour and parental wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic. UCL OPEN. ENVIRONMENT 2022; 4:e040. [PMID: 37228474 PMCID: PMC10208338 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In this study we surveyed families' experiences with parental depression, stress, relationship conflict and child behavioural issues during 6 months of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic through the Covid-19: Global Social Trust and Mental Health Study. The current analyses used data collected from online surveys completed by adults in 66 countries from 17 April 2020 to 13 July 2020 (Wave I), followed by surveys 6 months later at Wave II (17 October 2020-31 January 2021). Analyses were limited to 175 adult parents who reported living with at least one child under 18 years old at Wave I. Parents reported on children's level of externalising and internalising behaviour at Wave I. At Wave II, parents completed self-reported measures of stress, depression and inter-partner conflict. Child externalising behaviour at Wave I significantly predicted higher levels of parental stress at Wave II, controlling for covariates. Child internalising behaviour at Wave I did not predict parental stress or depression, controlling for covariates. Neither child externalising nor internalising behaviour predicted parental relationship conflict. The overall findings demonstrate that child behaviour likely influenced parental stress during the Covid-19 pandemic. Findings suggest that mental health interventions for children and parents may improve the family system during times of disaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Portnoy
- School of Criminology and Justice Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - AnaCristina Bedoya
- School of Criminology and Justice Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Keri Ka-Yee Wong
- Department of Psychology & Human Development, University College London, UK
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11
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Prime H, Wade M, Browne DT. Pandemic-Related Disruption and Positive Adaptation: Profiles of Family Function at the Onset of the Pandemic. ADVERSITY AND RESILIENCE SCIENCE 2022; 3:321-333. [PMID: 36117857 PMCID: PMC9471027 DOI: 10.1007/s42844-022-00077-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The onset of the pandemic brought heightened stress to parents due to disruptions to family life, in addition to processes of positive family adaptation, including greater closeness, more time spent together, and shared problem-solving. Delineating how early pandemic-related family stress and positive adaptation simultaneously operate is important for understanding risk and resilience. We use a person-oriented approach to identify subgroups of caregivers based on patterns of stress and positive adaptation in the first months of the pandemic. Data come from a multi-national study of 549 caregivers (68% female) of 1098 children (younger child: M = 9.62, SD = 3.21; older child: M = 11.80, SD = 3.32). In May 2020, caregivers reported on stress (income, family, and pandemic-specific) and positive adaptation using previously validated scales, and covariates indexing family vulnerabilities (i.e., caregiver adverse childhood experiences, caregiver and child mental health) and psychosocial resources (caregiver social support, positive coping, religiosity/spirituality, and benevolent childhood experiences, and pre-pandemic socioeconomic resources). A latent profile analysis was conducted using the four indicators. Profiles were examined in relation to covariates using BCH procedures. A 4-profile solution was selected, characterized by Low Disruption (n = 296), Multi-Domain Disruption (n = 36), Income Disruption (n = 111), and Family Disruption (n = 106) groups. Positive adaptation minimally differentiated profiles. Participants in the Low Disruption group reported more resources and fewer vulnerabilities than other groups. Those in the Multi-Domain Disruption group reported the fewest resources and the most vulnerabilities. Early in the pandemic, a minority group of individuals in this sample carried a disproportionate burden of pandemic-related stress. Potential consequences to family functioning and implications for systemic family prevention and intervention efforts are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Prime
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Mark Wade
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Dillon T. Browne
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON Canada
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12
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Cohen R, Yassin N, Gershy N. Parenting in Israel amid COVID-19: the Protective Role of Mentalization and Emotion Regulation. ADVERSITY AND RESILIENCE SCIENCE 2022; 3:283-296. [PMID: 36065320 PMCID: PMC9433528 DOI: 10.1007/s42844-022-00072-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The global COVID-19 pandemic changed the life of numerous parents. The medical worry, the financial hardship, and the need to take care of children 24/7 caused an enormous burden on parenting, resulting in an elevation in parenting stress and in harsh parenting. In the current study, we were interested in assessing the role of parental emotion regulation and parental mentalization as resilience-promoting factors, by mitigating the harmful relationship between parental distress and negative and positive parenting. Seventy Israeli parents of children (aged 6-14) participated in the study. We assessed parental mentalization and emotion dysregulation before the COVID-19 pandemic. During the national lockdown in Israel in May 2020, we assessed parental distress, COVID-related financial risk, and parental practices. Results indicated elevations in parental distress compared to the population mean, alongside high rates of financial risk. The results indicated that although parental distress was significantly related to parenting practices, parental mentalization, and emotion regulation moderated these relationships in differential ways. Improved capacity for emotion regulation reduced the prevalence of negative parenting practices and higher parental mentalization increased the prevalence of positive parenting, these are despite elevation in parental distress. The results suggested that when parents are able to regulate their own negative emotions and think about a child's mind, they can remain available to support the child's needs despite the elevation in parental distress. Supporting parental capacity for mentalization and emotion regulation during stressful times may prevent the harmful consequences of parental distress on parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Racheli Cohen
- Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nada Yassin
- Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Naama Gershy
- Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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13
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Xiao H, Liu Q, Mei H, Xue Q, Cai X, Xie X, Xia Z, Zhou Y, Li H, Zhu K, Wan Z, Song R, Liu Z. Behavioral problems of pediatric patients recovered from COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2022; 226:103571. [PMID: 35366515 PMCID: PMC8934713 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is profoundly affecting lives around the globe. Previous studies on COVID-19 mainly focused on epidemiological, clinical, and radiological features of patients with confirmed infection. Little attention has been paid to the follow-up of recovered patients. As a vulnerable population to adverse events, the health status of the COVID-19 recovered pediatric patients is of great concern. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of behavioral problems among pediatric patients recovered from the COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. Methods A total of 122 children who were suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalized for treatment were enrolled in the study between April 2020 and May 2020 in Wuhan, China. We collected related information about hospitalization and discharge of the children and emotional symptoms of their parents through electronic medical records and questionnaire. The behavioral problems of children were examined by applying the parent-reported the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results The participant children were discharged from hospital after about two months. Among them, 76 (62%) were boys, and the mean age was 6.71 years old. The highest prevalence of behavioral problems among pediatric children with COVID-19 was for prosocial behavior (15%), followed by total difficulties (13%), emotional symptoms (11%), hyperactivity (10%), conduct problems (9%), and peer problems (1%). With regarding to their parents, 26% reported having symptoms of anxiety and 23% as having symptoms of depression. The scores of SDQ were higher in those children whose parents have emotional problems compared to parents without. Conclusion Long-term follow up studies on the psychological and behavioral problems of COVID-19 recovered children and their parents are warranted.
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Exposure to the World Trade Center disaster and test performance among New York City public school students over time, 1998–2003. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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15
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Que nous apprenent les enfants des survivants de la shoah sur la transmission transgenerationnelle du traumatisme? EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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16
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Saleem S, Burns S, Falenchuk O, Varmuza P, Perlman M. Heterogeneity in maternal and child mental health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY 2021; 59:203-214. [PMID: 34955597 PMCID: PMC8685196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We used latent profile analysis on a longitudinal dataset to examine changes in maternal and child mental health during COVID-19 and factors that may protect against declines in mental health. Participants were 183 low-income mothers (M = 36 years) with young children (M = 5.31 years) in the City of Toronto with data collected prior to and during the pandemic in 2020. Mothers reported on their own stress, anxiety and depression and their children's emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, peer, and prosocial problems at both timepoints. We found heterogeneity in mental health changes, with 5 distinct patterns of change for mothers, and 4 distinct patterns of change for children during COVID-19. The majority (83%) of mothers experienced significant declines in at least one aspect of mental health. In contrast, the majority of children (65%) experienced either no change or improvements in mental health. Interestingly, patterns of change across these groups were not differentiated by demographic characteristics such as income, education, and family composition. However, for mothers, a higher degree of satisfaction with social support was associated with membership in a profile with better mental health both prior to, and during the pandemic. For children, having a stable history of early childhood education, and care was associated with membership in a profile that showed improvements in mental health during the pandemic. We discuss how our results support the need for proactive and global interventions for at-risk families with raised mental health concerns, and the benefits that stable early childhood education and care may provide for young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumayya Saleem
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto M5S 1V6, Canada
| | - Samantha Burns
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto M5S 1V6, Canada
| | - Olesya Falenchuk
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto M5S 1V6, Canada
| | - Petr Varmuza
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto M5S 1V6, Canada
| | - Michal Perlman
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto M5S 1V6, Canada
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17
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Parenting Stress Moderates the Relation between Parental Trauma Exposure and Child Anxiety Symptoms. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2021; 52:1050-1059. [PMID: 33098057 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-020-01087-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Trauma exposure can lead to poor psychological health not only for those directly affected, but also for their children. Additional research is needed to understand mechanisms in the intergenerational sequelae of traumatic stress. The current study examined parenting stress as a moderator of the association between parents' lifetime trauma exposure and school-aged children's internalizing symptoms (N = 139 dyads). Results of multiple regression analyses showed that the relationships between parental trauma exposure and child separation anxiety and harm avoidance were significant when parenting stress was moderate to high, but not when parenting stress was low. Parental trauma exposure was not significantly associated with child depressive symptoms. Clinical implications include the importance of screening and addressing parents' trauma exposure and parenting stress in the context of child and family mental health services. Further research is needed to explicate the mechanisms linking parents' trauma exposure with child anxiety symptoms.
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18
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Black SR, Evans ML, Aaron L, Brabham DR, Kaplan RM. Covariance Between Parent and Child Symptoms Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Pediatr Psychol 2021; 46:1182-1194. [PMID: 34405876 PMCID: PMC8385985 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE COVID-19 has had unprecedented effects on American families, including increases in depression, anxiety, and irritability for both parents and children. While parents and children influence each other's psychological functioning during non-disaster times, this effect may be amplified during times of disaster. The current study investigated how COVID-19 influenced covariance of depressive symptoms and irritability in children and their parents. METHODS Three hundred and ninety-one parents and their 8- to 17-year-old children (Mage = 10.68 years old, 70% male, 86% White) from a large sample of children and parents, primarily from Southeastern Louisiana, completed self-report measures of depression and irritability approximately 6 weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as providing retrospective reports of their symptoms prior to the pandemic. Actor-partner interdependence models were used to measure the reciprocal effects of parent symptoms on children and vice versa, both before and during the pandemic. RESULTS Actor effects in both the depressive symptoms and irritability models suggested that pre-COVID-19 depressive symptoms and irritability were robust predictors of early-COVID-19 depressive symptoms and irritability for both parents and children. Partner effects were also detected in the irritability model, in that parental irritability prior to COVID-19 was associated with decreased child irritability during the pandemic. Both before and during the pandemic, associations between parent and child depressive symptoms and irritability scores were weaker in families evidencing greater dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that COVID-19-related stress is associated with increases in both parent and child symptomatology, and that family relationships likely influence associations between these symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Black
- Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, USA
| | | | - Lauren Aaron
- Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, USA
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19
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Martiny SE, Thorsteinsen K, Parks-Stamm EJ, Olsen M, Kvalø M. Children’s Well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Relationships with attitudes, family structure, and mothers’ Well-being. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2021.1948398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Martiny
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kjærsti Thorsteinsen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Marte Olsen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marie Kvalø
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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20
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Taubman-Ben-Ari O, Ben-Yaakov O, Chasson M. Parenting stress among new parents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2021; 117:105080. [PMID: 33930664 PMCID: PMC9754858 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced parents to deal with a challenging crisis, which may have increased their stress levels, negatively affecting their parenting and putting their infants at risk of abuse. OBJECTIVE To examine the contribution of the pandemic to parenting stress, exploring differences in parenting stress among new parents before and during the crisis, the role of background and personal variables, and the possibility that the study phase moderated the associations of gender and personal resources with parenting stress. METHOD Israeli parents (n = 1591) whose first child was 3-12 months old were recruited twice through social media: in 2019, before the spread of COVID-19 (n = 985); and in March 2020, during the pandemic (n = 606). RESULTS Sociodemographic variables, perception of the childbirth as traumatic, lower meaning in life, higher search for meaning, less marital satisfaction, and study phase all contributed to greater parenting stress. In addition, the association between gender and stress was moderated by study phase, with fathers reporting a greater increase in stress during the pandemic. Moreover, only during the pandemic did fathers report higher parenting stress than mothers. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the vulnerability of new parents of young infants to parenting stress during the crisis, and the special attention which should be paid to fathers. They indicate the value of strengthening meaning in life and preserving good marital relationships as resources that help to cope with the heightened parenting stress at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ofir Ben-Yaakov
- The Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
| | - Miriam Chasson
- The Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
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21
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Qouta SR, Vänskä M, Diab SY, Punamäki RL. War trauma and infant motor, cognitive, and socioemotional development: Maternal mental health and dyadic interaction as explanatory processes. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 63:101532. [PMID: 33588286 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taking care of infants in conditions of war is highly demanding and a few studies reveal the negative impact of war trauma on maternal and infant well-being. Yet, little is known regarding the influence of trauma on infant development and the potential explanatory mechanisms. First, the present study examines how mothers' prenatal exposure to traumatic war events is associated with infant cognitive, motor, and socioemotional development. Second, it analyses the mediating roles of maternal postpartum mental health problems, quality of dyadic mother-infant interaction, and earlier infant development (at six months) in the association between prenatal traumatic war events and infants' developmental skills at 18 months. METHOD This prospective three-wave study involved 502 Palestinian pregnant females in their first trimester during the 2014 Gaza War and participated at delivery (T1) and when the child was six (T2;N = 392) and eighteen (T3; N = 386) months of age. Mothers reported their exposure to traumatic war events (human and material losses, horrors, and threat to life) at T1 and T2, and researchers photo-documented the extent of destruction at T1. Mothers reported infants' language, fine- and gross-motor, and socioemotional skills at T2 and researchers tested infants' motor, cognitive-language and socioemotional skills using the Bayley Scales of Infant development (BSID-II) at T3. Mothers reported their mental health problems (symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression and somatization) at T2 and T3 as well as dyadic interaction quality (the emotional availability self-report, [EA-SR] brief) at T2. RESULTS First, the structural equation model (SEM) on direct effects indicated, in contrast to our hypotheses, that maternal prenatal exposure to traumatic war events did not associate with infants' developmental skills at T2 and predicted higher level of developmental skills at T3. Second, as hypothesized, we found two negative underlying mechanisms (paths) between high exposure and low levels of motor, cognitive-language, and socioemotional skills at T3: (1) through increased maternal mental health problems at T2, which then were associated with problems at T3, and (2) through increased maternal mental health problems at T2, which then were associated with a low quality of mother-infant-interaction and low level of infant developmental skills at T2. CONCLUSION Improving maternal mental health and encouraging close and positive dyadic interaction can be critical for infant sensorimotor, cognitive, and socioemotional development in war conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir R Qouta
- Doha Institut for Graduate Studies, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Qatar
| | - Mervi Vänskä
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland
| | - Safwat Y Diab
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland
| | - Raija-Leena Punamäki
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland.
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22
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Schiff M, Pat-Horenczyk R, Ziv Y, Brom D. Multiple Traumas, Maternal Depression, Mother-Child Relationship, Social Support, and Young Children's Behavioral Problems. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2021; 36:892-914. [PMID: 29294915 DOI: 10.1177/0886260517725738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study examined whether maternal depression, mother-child relationships, and maternal perceived social support mediate the associations between child's exposure to multiple traumatic events and behavioral problems. We recruited a representative sample of 904 Israeli (Jewish and Arab) mothers and their 2- to 6-year-old children. Data collection was conducted through structured face-to-face interviews with the mothers between July and November 2011. All measures were completed by the mothers. We used the child's and mother's exposure to political violence questionnaires, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a short version of the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey. The research study model was tested using path analysis. The model showed a very good fit to the data, suggesting that maternal rejection, maternal depression, and social support play an important role in child's behavioral problems in the context of multiple traumatic events. Higher levels of maternal rejection were significantly associated with greater children behavior problems. Maternal rejection mediated the associations between maternal depressive symptoms and child's behavioral problems. Maternal perceived social support mediated the associations between child's exposure to multiple traumatic events and child's behavioral problems; child's exposure to multiple traumatic events was associated with lower levels of maternal perceived social support. In turn, lower levels of perceived social support were associated with higher levels of behavioral problems. In conclusion, in accordance with the "social stress framework," social support has a mediation role in the association between exposure to traumatic events and child's behavioral problems. Thus, enhancing social support to mothers to young children in the context of multiple traumatic events is essential for children resiliency.
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23
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Stenson AF, van Rooij SJH, Carter SE, Powers A, Jovanovic T. A legacy of fear: Physiological evidence for intergenerational effects of trauma exposure on fear and safety signal learning among African Americans. Behav Brain Res 2020; 402:113017. [PMID: 33197457 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of maternal trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on children's physiological response to threat and safety signals during a fear conditioning task in trauma-exposed mothers and children. METHOD Participants were African American mother-child dyads (N = 137; children aged 8-13 years). Mothers' trauma history and PTSD symptoms were assessed; Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was conducted from these measures to identify distinct classes. Children reported violence exposure and completed a differential fear conditioning task using fear-potentiated startle (FPS) responses to conditioned danger (CS+) and safety (CS-) signals. RESULTS Four classes of maternal trauma history and PTSD symptoms emerged: 1) Lower Trauma, 2) Moderate Trauma, 3) High Sexual Abuse, and 4) High Trauma and PTSD Symptoms. Children's FPS to CS + and CS- were tested with maternal class as the between-subjects factor. FPS to the danger signal was not significantly different across maternal classes, but FPS to safety (CS-) was significantly higher for the Lower Trauma and High Trauma and PTSD Symptoms classes than either the Moderate Trauma or the High Sexual Abuse classes. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that maternal trauma impacts children's ability to modulate fear responses in the presence of a safety signal, independent of the children's own trauma exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that children's fear inhibition is impacted by maternal trauma exposure. Prior studies have linked fear inhibition to mental health outcomes, highlighting the need to understand intergenerational modulation of fear learning and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs F Stenson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States.
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sierra E Carter
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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24
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Bountress KE, Gilmore AK, Metzger IW, Aggen SH, Tomko RL, Danielson CK, Williamson V, Vladmirov V, Ruggiero K, Amstadter AB. Impact of disaster exposure severity: Cascading effects across parental distress, adolescent PTSD symptoms, as well as parent-child conflict and communication. Soc Sci Med 2020; 264:113293. [PMID: 32858492 PMCID: PMC7689632 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Natural disasters are common and have potentially deleterious impacts on individuals, as well as on the relationships among family members (Adams et al., 2015; Paul, 2015). Additionally, caregiver-, offspring-, and family-level outcomes are often correlated following disaster. OBJECTIVE Thus, longitudinal work is needed to clarify the prospective associations among such constructs following severe disasters. METHOD The current study included 1,271 adolescents and investigated whether disaster exposure impacted adolescent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, parent distress, and family parent-child conflict and communication, as well as whether/how these factors influenced one another over time. This study used a dynamic cascade model and included adolescents (ages 12-17) and caregivers present for tornadoes in Missouri and Alabama in 2011. These participants were part of a larger study involving a web-based intervention. RESULTS Over and above covariates (i.e., adolescent age, gender, race, treatment, prior trauma, adolescent alcohol use and depressive symptoms, and household income), families who experienced greater severity of disaster exposure had adolescents who reported more baseline PTSD symptoms and caregivers who reported more distress at baseline. CONCLUSIONS Providing tangible resources (e.g., housing, food, transportation, essential possessions) to families post-disaster may reduce parent distress and adolescent PTSD symptoms. Additionally, reducing adolescent PTSD symptoms may prospectively improve relationships between parents and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin E Bountress
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatry and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States.
| | - Amanda K Gilmore
- Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development and Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, United States
| | - Isha W Metzger
- University of Georgia, Department of Psychology, United States
| | - Steven H Aggen
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatry and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
| | - Rachel L Tomko
- Addiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, United States
| | - Carla Kmett Danielson
- National Crime Victim Research & Treatment Center (NCVC), Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, United States
| | - Vernell Williamson
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatry and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
| | - Vladimir Vladmirov
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatry and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
| | - Kenneth Ruggiero
- College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, United States
| | - Ananda B Amstadter
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatry and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States
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Patterson MM, Bigler RS, Pahlke E, Brown CS, Hayes AR, Ramirez MC, Nelson A. Toward a Developmental Science of Politics. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 2020; 84:7-185. [PMID: 31503346 DOI: 10.1111/mono.12410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In this monograph, we argue for the establishment of a developmental science of politics that describes, explains, and predicts the formation and change of individuals' political knowledge, attitudes, and behavior beginning in childhood and continuing across the life course. Reflecting our goal of contributing both theoretical conceptualizations and empirical data, we have organized the monograph into two broad sections. In the first section, we outline theoretical contributions that the study of politics may make to developmental science and provide practical reasons that empirical research in the domain of politics is important (e.g., for identifying ways to improve civics education and for encouraging higher voting rates among young adults). We also review major historical approaches to the study of political development and provide an integrative theoretical framework to ground future work. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model as an organizing scheme and emphasizing social justice issues, we describe how factors rooted in cultural contexts, families, and children themselves are likely to shape political development. In the second section of the monograph, we argue for the importance and utility of studying major political events, such as presidential elections, and introduce the major themes, rationales, and hypotheses for a study of U.S. children's views of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In addition, we apply a social-justice lens to political thought and participation, addressing the role of gender/sex and race/ethnicity in children's political development broadly, and in their knowledge and views of the 2016 U.S. presidential election specifically. In interviews conducted within the month before and after the election, we examined two overarching categories of children's political attitudes: (a) knowledge, preferences, and expectations about the 2016 election, and (b) knowledge and attitudes concerning gender/sex and politics, particularly relevant for the 2016 election given Hillary Clinton's role as the first female major-party candidate for the presidency. Participants were 187 children (101 girls) between 5 and 11 years of age (M = 8.42 years, SD = 1.45 years). They were recruited from schools and youth organizations in five counties in four U.S. states (Kansas, Kentucky, Texas, and Washington) with varying voting patterns (e.g., Trump voters ranged from 27% to 71% of county voters). The sample was not a nationally representative one, but was racially diverse (35 African American, 50 Latinx, 81 White, and 21 multiracial, Asian American, Middle Eastern, or Native American children). In addition to several child characteristics (e.g., age, social dominance orientation [SDO]), we assessed several family and community characteristics (e.g., child-reported parental interest in the election and government-reported county-level voting patterns, respectively) hypothesized to predict outcome variables. Although our findings are shaped by the nature of our sample (e.g., our participants were less likely to support Trump than children in larger, nationwide samples were), they offer preliminary insights into children's political development. Overall, children in our sample were interested in and knowledgeable about the presidential election (e.g., a large majority identified the candidates correctly and reported some knowledge about their personal qualities or policy positions). They reported more information about Donald Trump's than Hillary Clinton's policies, largely accounted for by the substantial percentage of children (41%) who referred to Trump's immigration policies (e.g., building a wall between the United States and Mexico). Overall, children reported as many negative as positive personal qualities of the candidates, with negative qualities being reported more often for Trump than for Clinton (56% and 18% of children, respectively). Most children (88%) supported Clinton over Trump, a preference that did not vary by participants' gender/sex or race/ethnicity. In their responses to an open-ended inquiry about their reactions to Trump's win, 63% of children reported negative and 18% reported positive emotions. Latinx children reacted more negatively to the election outcome than did White children. Girls' and boys' emotional responses to the election outcome did not differ. Children's personal interest in serving as U.S. president did not vary across gender/sex or racial/ethnic groups (overall, 42% were interested). Clinton's loss of the election did not appear to depress (or pique) girls' interest in becoming U.S. president. With respect to the role of gender/sex in politics, many children (35%) were ignorant about women's absence from the U.S. presidency. Only a single child was able to name a historical individual who worked for women's civil rights or suffrage. Child characteristics predicted some outcome variables. For example, as expected, older children showed greater knowledge about the candidates than did younger children. Family and community characteristics also predicted some outcome variables. For example, as expected, participants were more likely to support Trump if they perceived that their parents supported him and if Trump received a greater percentage of votes in the children's county of residence. Our data suggest that civic education should be expanded and reformed. In addition to addressing societal problems requiring political solutions, civics lessons should include the histories of social groups' political participation, including information about gender discrimination and the women's suffrage movement in U.S. political history. Providing children with environments that are rich in information related to the purpose and value of politics, and with opportunities and encouragement for political thought and action, is potentially beneficial for youth and their nations.
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26
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Beebe B, Hoven CW, Kaitz M, Steele M, Musa G, Margolis A, Ewing J, Sossin KM, Lee SH. Urgent engagement in 9/11 pregnant widows and their infants: Transmission of trauma. INFANCY 2020; 25:165-189. [PMID: 32749044 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The potential effects of maternal trauma on mother-infant interaction remain insufficiently studied empirically. This study examined the effects of the September 11, 2001, trauma on mother-infant interaction in mothers who were pregnant and widowed on 9/11, and their infants aged 4-6 months. Split-screen videotaped interaction was coded on a one-second basis for infant gaze, facial affect, and vocal affect; and mother gaze, facial affect, and touch. We examined the temporal dynamics of communication: self-contingency and interactive contingency of behavior by time-series methods. We documented heightened maternal and infant efforts at engagement in the 9/11 (vs. control) dyads. Both partners had difficulty tolerating moments of looking away as well as moments of negative behavior patterns. Heightened efforts to maintain a positive visual engagement may be adaptive and a potential source of resilience, but these patterns may also carry risk: working too hard to make it work. A vigilant, hyper-contingent, high-arousal engagement was the central mode of the interpersonal transmission of the trauma to these infants, with implications for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Beebe
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Christina W Hoven
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Marsha Kaitz
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Miriam Steele
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, New York
| | - George Musa
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Amy Margolis
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Julie Ewing
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - K Mark Sossin
- Department of Psychology, Pace University, New York, New York
| | - Sang Han Lee
- The Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, New York
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Martin CG, Everett Y, Skowron EA, Zalewski M. The Role of Caregiver Psychopathology in the Treatment of Childhood Trauma with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Systematic Review. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2020; 22:273-289. [PMID: 30796672 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-019-00290-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is regarded as one of the most effective treatments for children who have experienced trauma and is rapidly being disseminated. To best ensure efficacy, even among treatment refractory symptoms, a better understanding of the factors that lead TF-CBT to be more or less effective for some children is warranted. One major factor that has not been systematically considered is the role of caregiver psychopathology. Therefore, this systematic review of 18 empirical studies examined how TF-CBT has incorporated caregiver psychopathology into the treatment of childhood trauma and how it is related to treatment outcomes. The results of this review provide preliminary support for TF-CBT decreasing caregiver psychopathology, in terms of symptoms of depression, PTSD, and emotional distress related to the child's experience of trauma, as well as partial support for caregiver depression, rather than caregiver PTSD or distress, influencing child treatment outcomes. It also illuminates the strong need for future TF-CBT studies to routinely measure caregiver psychopathology. Several recommendations are provided to ensure that the emerging research base can inform clinical practice guidelines on how to incorporate caregivers who exhibit psychopathology and potentially develop modifications to the existing treatment to address trauma and symptoms in both members of the caregiver-child dyad, when needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoel Everett
- Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Skowron
- Department of Counseling Psychology & Human Services, 5251 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Maureen Zalewski
- Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
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Chen XY, Chen J, Shi X, Jiang M, Li Y, Zhou Y, Ran M, Lai Y, Wang T, Fan F, Liu X, Chan CLW. Trajectories of maternal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder predict long-term mental health of children following the Wenchuan earthquake in China: A 10-year follow-up study. J Affect Disord 2020; 266:201-206. [PMID: 32056877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychopathology can be an important factor associated with psychological adjustment of children. However, there is limited research on long-term impacts of maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on children's mental health. This study examined how PTSD trajectories of women exposed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China predicted their children's mental health symptoms 10 years after the earthquake. METHODS 410 dyads of mothers and their adolescent children who exposed to the Wenchuan earthquake were investigated at 12 and 18 months post-earthquake. While the mothers completed measures of earthquake exposure and PTSD symptoms, the children completed measures of earthquake exposure, PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms. In the 10-year follow up, 257 out of the 410 children completed measures of PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms. Data were analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS Four trajectories of maternal PTSD symptoms were identified: (a) chronic (9.5%); (b) resilient (66.3%); (c) delayed (7.6%); and (d) recovery (16.6%); More importantly, the findings demonstrated that children whose mothers experienced chronic PTSD reported higher level of PTSD and anxiety symptoms 10 years after the earthquake. LIMITATIONS Only two waves of maternal PTSD were collected, self-reported tools other than clinical reviews were used to collect data, and a significant proportion of participants did not respond at the 10-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This study identified maternal PTSD trajectories following the Wenchuan earthquake. Chronic PTSD symptoms in mothers were associated with increased risk of children's PTSD and anxiety 10 years after the earthquake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Chen
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Jieling Chen
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xuliang Shi
- College of Education, Hebei University, Hebei, China
| | - Min Jiang
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Ya Zhou
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Maosheng Ran
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuan Lai
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Fan
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xianchen Liu
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Cecilia Lai Wan Chan
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Li Y, Shi X, McReynolds LS, Tang H, Chen H, Wang T, Zhang Y, Geng F, Fan F, Hoven CW. Depressive symptoms between parent and adolescent survivors: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence model. J Affect Disord 2020; 265:139-145. [PMID: 32090735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between parent-child depression following disasters has been well documented. However, longitudinal studies of posttraumatic depression using parent-child dyadic are scarce. This study aimed to investigate inter-related effects between parent and child depression, as well as predictors of depressive symptoms, in a large sample of Wenchuan earthquake survivors. METHODS Data are from the Wenchuan Earthquake Adolescent Health Cohort (WEAHC) Study that included 685 parent-child dyads exposed to the earthquake. Depression was assessed with the Self-Rating Depression Scale (for parents) and Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children, at 12 (T12m) and 18 months (T18m) post-earthquake. Longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) were employed to examine depression within dyads. Predictors of depressive symptoms were assessed by the cart algorithm throughout the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS Adjusting for earthquake exposure and previous depressive symptoms, parents' depression at 12 months predicted children's depressive symptoms at 18 months, and vice versa (β = 0.14 for parents and β = 0.12 for children). Psychomotor retardation in parents, and dysphoria/social isolation and positive affect in children were identified as crucial screening indicators identifying parents and children at increased risk for depression. CONCLUSION A bidirectional association was found between parent and child depression following a mass disaster. Both parent and child depression status should be examined when implementing interventions to identify and treat depression in earthquake survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangdong 510631, China
| | - Xuliang Shi
- College of education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Larkin S McReynolds
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Huilan Tang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Huilin Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, UK
| | - Tong Wang
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangdong 510631, China
| | - Yuechu Zhang
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangdong 510631, China
| | - Fulei Geng
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangdong 510631, China
| | - Fang Fan
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangdong 510631, China.
| | - C W Hoven
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
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Jang M, Lee SH, Kim LJ. Post-traumatic stress disorder and behavioral problems of parents and children after the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00207411.2020.1725719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mikyung Jang
- Department of Child Welfare, Namseoul University, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-hwa Lee
- Department of Child Welfare, Namseoul University, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Lee-jin Kim
- Department of Child Studies, Jon-Buk University, Chonbuk, Republic of Korea
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Greene CA, McCarthy KJ, Estabrook R, Wakschlag LS, Briggs-Gowa MJ. Responsive Parenting Buffers the Impact of Maternal PTSD on Young Children. PARENTING, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020; 20:141-165. [PMID: 33716579 PMCID: PMC7954133 DOI: 10.1080/15295192.2019.1707623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigates maternal responsive parenting behaviors as a theorized buffer to the detrimental impact of maternal PTSD symptoms on young children's depression and anxiety symptoms, disruptive behavior, and stress-related symptoms. DESIGN A multi-ethnic sample of 242 trauma-exposed mothers and their preschool-aged children was assessed. Maternal responsive parenting behaviors were observed during standardized parent-child interactions. Maternal and child mental health symptoms were reported by mothers. RESULTS Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with their responsive parenting behaviors and predicted children's mental health symptoms. Responsive parenting was inversely associated with children's depression and stress-related symptoms. Moderation analyses revealed an interactive effect of maternal symptoms and responsive parenting on preschool children's disruptive behavior and stress-related symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Responsive parenting behaviors can mitigate the ill effects of maternal PTSD symptoms. Nurturing relationships buffer the impact of maternal PTSD. Helping parents' to sensitively respond to their young children's distress can support positive outcomes in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A Greene
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 65 Kane Street, West Hartford, Connecticut 06119
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Woods-Jaeger B, Briggs EC, Vivrette RL, Lee RC, Suarez L, Belcher HME. The Association between Caregiver Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems and Outcomes for Trauma-Exposed Youth. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2019; 12:447-456. [PMID: 32318214 PMCID: PMC7163816 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-019-00251-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Trauma-exposed youth with impaired caregivers (i.e., due to substance use and/or mental health problems) may be at particular risk for negative outcomes. This study utilized data from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set to examine the impact of caregiver impairment on youth outcomes. Trauma-exposed youth with an impaired caregiver due to either: substance use (n = 498), mental health problems (n = 231), or both substance use and mental health problems (n = 305) were compared to youth without a reported impaired caregiver (n = 2282) to determine if impaired caregiver status is independently associated with increased likelihood of negative behavioral and mental health outcomes and service utilization after accounting for demographics and exposure to traumatic events. Youth with impaired caregivers compared to those without were more likely to display PTSD, emotional and behavioral problems, suicidality, self-injury, and substance abuse and had higher rates of service utilization (p < 0.05). Differential patterns were observed based on the type of caregiver impairment. Findings support the importance of family-centered assessment and intervention approaches for youth affected by trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Woods-Jaeger
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Ernestine C. Briggs
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Durham, NC USA
| | - Rebecca L. Vivrette
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Robert C. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Durham, NC USA
| | - Liza Suarez
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Urban Youth Trauma Center, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Harolyn M. E. Belcher
- Center for Diversity in Public Health Leadership Training, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
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Punamäki RL, Qouta SR, Diab SY. The role of maternal attachment in mental health and dyadic relationships in war trauma. Heliyon 2019; 5:e02867. [PMID: 31890934 PMCID: PMC6926227 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infant care is a demanding task in dangerous war conditions, but research on the wellbeing of mother-infant dyads is mainly available in peaceful conditions. Knowledge on protective versus risking processes is especially vital for tailoring effective help, and the present study proposes the maternal attachment style to play an important role in dangerous war conditions. OBJECTIVE The study analyses, first, how various traumatic war events, such as losses, horrors and life-threat, are associated with maternal mental health and dyadic mother-infant interaction quality, indicated by maternal emotional availability (EA). Second, it tests a hypothesis that maternal insecure attachment risks and secure attachment protects good mental health and optimal EA from negative impacts of traumatic war events. METHOD The prospective three-wave study involved 502 Palestinian mothers, who were pregnant during the 2014 War on Gaza, and participated at delivery (T1), and when the infant was seven (T2; N = 392) and eighteen (T3; N = 386) months. Mothers reported about war events at T1 and T2 (death and losses, witnessing horrors and life-threat), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms at T2 and T3. Dyadic interaction quality was assessed by mother-perceived emotional availability (EA) scale at T2 and T3, and attachment styles by mothers' self-reports at T3. RESULTS Death and losses, witnessing horrors, and life-threat were all associated with a high level of maternal PTSD, but only at T2, whereas death and losses were associated with her depressive symptoms both at T2 and T3. Witnessing horrors was associated with a low close and positive and a high distant and negative emotional availability at T2 and T3. As hypothesized, maternal avoidant attachment was associated with a low level of close and positive EA in general, and especially when the dyads were exposed to a high level of traumatic war events, thus indicating a risking function. Against the hypothesis, secure attachment did not show any protective function on emotional availability, while, unexpectedly, maternal preoccupied attachment was associated with close and positive emotional availability, when dyads were exposed to a high level of traumatic war events. CONCLUSION Mothering in conditions of war and military violence is an overwhelmingly demanding task, and mother-infant dyads need legal, social, and psychological assistance. Knowledge and reflection of unique responses and meanings of different attachment styles would be fruitful in tailoring effective help.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raija-Leena Punamäki
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland
| | - Samir R. Qouta
- Doha Institute For Graduate Studies, Qatar
- Islamic University Gaza, Department of Education and Psychology, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Safwat Y. Diab
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Finland
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Batchelor V, Pang TY. HPA axis regulation and stress response is subject to intergenerational modification by paternal trauma and stress. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 280:47-53. [PMID: 30981703 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that one's risk for psychiatric disturbances and metabolic syndromes is influenced by their parents' own health history, lifestyle and living environment. For example, paternal high fat diet is strongly linked to neuroendocrine dysregulation in offspring and increased risk for diabetes. The potential intergenerational impact of paternal stress has only just begun to emerge, with the initial evidence suggestive of greater risk for anxiety-related disorders. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis is a key neuroendocrine signalling system involved in physiological homeostasis and stress response. In individuals, dysregulation of this system is closely associated with behavioral deficits and mood disorders. Various preclinical models of paternal stress have demonstrated robust behavioral shifts but little is known about the intergenerational modification of HPA axis function. This review will present evidence drawn from a range of laboratory mouse and rat models that the intergenerational influence of paternal stress on offspring behavioral phenotypes involve some level of HPA axis dysregulation. It makes the case that further investigations to comprehensively profile HPA axis function in offspring generations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Batchelor
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Terence Y Pang
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
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35
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Cohen E, Shulman C. Mothers and Toddlers Exposed to Political Violence: Severity of Exposure, Emotional Availability, Parenting Stress, and Toddlers' Behavior Problems. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2019; 12:131-140. [PMID: 32318186 PMCID: PMC7163821 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-017-0197-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the potential risks of maternal and child exposure to traumatic events resulting from political violence, specifically those related to emotional availability, parenting stress and children's behavioral problems. It also evaluated the feasibility of mitigating these effects through a play-based group intervention for conjoint dyads of mothers and toddlers. Results from 54 dyads show that the higher maternal and especially child exposure to political violence and other trauma, the lower their emotional availability in dyadic interactions (r = .40, p < .01). Emotional availability was associated with the mother's parenting stress, and both parenting stress and emotional availability were associated with the mother's perceptions of her child's behavior problems. Comparisons of observed emotional availability, child behavior problems as perceived by the mother, and reported stress in 28 dyads before and after participating in the intervention suggest that it may be possible to bolster emotional availability and to reduce child's behavior problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Cohen
- School of Education, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- Present Address: Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel
| | - Cory Shulman
- School of Social Work and Social Wefare, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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Using an adoption-biological family design to examine associations between maternal trauma, maternal depressive symptoms, and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Dev Psychopathol 2018; 29:1707-1720. [PMID: 29162177 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417001341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Maternal trauma is a complex risk factor that has been linked to adverse child outcomes, yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. This study, which included adoptive and biological families, examined the heritable and environmental mechanisms by which maternal trauma and associated depressive symptoms are linked to child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Path analyses were used to analyze data from 541 adoptive mother-adopted child (AM-AC) dyads and 126 biological mother-biological child (BM-BC) dyads; the two family types were linked through the same biological mother. Rearing mother's trauma was associated with child internalizing and externalizing behaviors in AM-AC and BM-BC dyads, and this association was mediated by rearing mothers' depressive symptoms, with the exception of biological child externalizing behavior, for which biological mother trauma had a direct influence only. Significant associations between maternal trauma and child behavior in dyads that share only environment (i.e., AM-AC dyads) suggest an environmental mechanism of influence for maternal trauma. Significant associations were also observed between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing and externalizing behavior in dyads that were only genetically related, with no shared environment (i.e., BM-AC dyads), suggesting a heritable pathway of influence via maternal depressive symptoms.
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Salloum A, Johnco C, Smyth KM, Murphy TK, Storch EA. Co-Occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Among Young Children. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2018; 49:452-459. [PMID: 29052121 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-017-0764-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in: (1) mental health emotional and behavioral problems between young children experiencing PTSD with and without MDD; (2) the incidence of caregiver PTSD and MDD between children with PTSD ± MDD; and (3) the number of traumatic events and interpersonal versus non-interpersonal nature of trauma events among children whose parents sought child trauma-focused treatment. Sixty-six caregivers of children aged 3-7 with PTSD completed semi-structured interviews regarding caregiver and child diagnoses, and caregivers completed self-report measures regarding child symptomatology. Results indicated that young children with PTSD + MDD had significantly higher internalizing symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and posttraumatic stress severity than those without comorbid MDD. There were no significant group differences in the incidence of caregiver PTSD or MDD, or the number or types of traumatic events. Future research to understand the unique contributors to the etiology of MDD in the context of PTSD among young children is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Salloum
- School of Social Work, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MHC 1400, Tampa, FL, 33612-3870, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
| | - Carly Johnco
- Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristin M Smyth
- Department of Social Work, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, USA
| | - Tanya K Murphy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- All Children's Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Eric A Storch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- All Children's Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
- Rogers Behavioral Health, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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Uchida M, Feng H, Feder A, Mota N, Schechter CB, Woodworth HD, Kelberman CG, Crane M, Landrigan P, Moline J, Udasin I, Harrison D, Luft BJ, Katz C, Southwick SM, Pietrzak RH. Parental posttraumatic stress and child behavioral problems in world trade center responders. Am J Ind Med 2018; 61:504-514. [PMID: 29574927 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated trans-generational associations between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms in World Trade Center (WTC) responders and behavioral problems in their children. METHODS Participants were WTC responders-8034 police and 8352 non-traditional (eg, construction workers)-with one or more children at the time of their first visit to the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC-HP). Self-report questionnaires were administered approximately 4 years after the 9/11 WTC attack. RESULTS A total of 31.4% of non-traditional and 20.0% of police responders reported behavioral problems in their children. Non-traditional responder status, female sex, Hispanic ethnicity, more life stressors, more WTC-related PTSD symptoms, and dysphoric arousal symptoms were significant correlates of behavioral problems in responders' children. CONCLUSIONS Specific parental sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical characteristics, as well as PTSD symptom severity, were significant correlates of child behavior problems. Findings encourage monitoring and early intervention for children of disaster responders, particularly those at highest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Uchida
- Department of Psychiatry; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston Massachusetts
| | - Huifen Feng
- Department of Psychiatry; The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
| | - Adriana Feder
- Department of Psychiatry; The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
| | - Natalie Mota
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and the Department of Psychiatry; Yale University School of Medicine; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Clyde B. Schechter
- Department of Family and Social Medicine; Albert Einstein College of Medicine; New York New York
| | - Hilary D. Woodworth
- Department of Psychiatry; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston Massachusetts
| | - Caroline G. Kelberman
- Department of Psychiatry; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston Massachusetts
| | - Michael Crane
- Department of Preventive Medicine; The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
| | - Philip Landrigan
- Department of Preventive Medicine; The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
| | - Jacqueline Moline
- Department of Occupational Medicine; Epidemiology and Prevention; Hofstra North Shore − Long Island Jewish School of Medicine; New York New York
| | - Iris Udasin
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine; UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Piscataway New Jersey
| | - Denise Harrison
- Departments of Environmental Medicine and Population Health; New York University School of Medicine; New York New York
| | - Benjamin J. Luft
- Department of Medicine; Division of Infection Diseases; Stony Brook University; Stony Brook New York
| | - Craig Katz
- Department of Psychiatry; The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
| | - Steven M. Southwick
- Department of Psychiatry; The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and the Department of Psychiatry; Yale University School of Medicine; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Robert H. Pietrzak
- Department of Psychiatry; The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and the Department of Psychiatry; Yale University School of Medicine; Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
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Fenerci RLB, DePrince AP. Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma: Maternal Trauma-Related Cognitions and Toddler Symptoms. CHILD MALTREATMENT 2018; 23:126-136. [PMID: 29092624 DOI: 10.1177/1077559517737376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate possible cognitive mechanisms involved in the intergenerational transmission of trauma from maltreatment-survivor mothers to their toddler/preschool-aged children. This study investigated whether maternal trauma-related cognitions-posttrauma appraisals and disorganized memory for maltreatment-were associated with higher levels of toddler internalizing and externalizing symptoms and more dysfunction in the mother-child relationship. A community sample of mothers with histories of maltreatment and a child between the ages of 2 and 5 years was recruited for a study on maternal attachment, coping, and health ( N = 113). Path analysis results showed that posttrauma appraisals and disorganized memory were significantly related to toddler internalizing symptoms, even with maternal trauma symptoms included in the model. Maternal posttrauma appraisals and disorganized memory were also linked to more dysfunction in the mother-child relationship. These findings provide preliminary evidence in support of maternal trauma-related cognitions as potential mechanisms for the intergenerational transmission of trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne P DePrince
- 1 Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
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Ulmer-Yaniv A, Djalovski A, Yirmiya K, Halevi G, Zagoory-Sharon O, Feldman R. Maternal immune and affiliative biomarkers and sensitive parenting mediate the effects of chronic early trauma on child anxiety. Psychol Med 2018; 48:1020-1033. [PMID: 28889808 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291717002550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic early trauma alters children's stress reactivity and increases the prevalence of anxiety disorders; yet the neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms underpinning this effect are not fully clear. Animal studies indicate that the mother's physiology and behavior mediate offspring stress in a system-specific manner, but few studies tested this external-regulatory maternal role in human children exposed to chronic stress. METHODS We followed a unique cohort of children exposed to continuous wartime trauma (N = 177; exposed; N = 101, controls; N = 76). At 10 years, maternal and child's salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and oxytocin (OT), biomarkers of the immune and affiliation systems, were assayed, maternal and child relational behaviors observed, mother and child underwent psychiatric diagnosis, and child anxiety symptoms assessed. RESULTS War-exposed mothers had higher s-IgA, lower OT, more anxiety symptoms, and their parenting was characterized by reduced sensitivity. Exposed children showed higher s-IgA, more anxiety disorders and post traumatic stress disorder, and more anxiety symptoms. Path analysis model defined three pathways by which maternal physiology and behavior impacted child anxiety; (a) increasing maternal s-IgA, which led to increased child s-IgA, augmenting child anxiety; (b) reducing maternal OT, which linked with diminished child OT and social repertoire; and (c) increasing maternal anxiety, which directly impacted child anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Our findings, the first to measure immune and affiliation biomarkers in mothers and children, detail their unique and joint effects on children's anxiety in response to stress; highlight the relations between chronic stress, immune activation, and anxiety in children; and describe how processes of biobehavioral synchrony shape children's long-term adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ulmer-Yaniv
- The Gonda Brain Sciences Center,Bar-Ilan University,Ramat-Gan,Israel
| | - A Djalovski
- Department of Psychology,Bar-Ilan University,Ramat-Gan,Israel
| | - K Yirmiya
- Department of Psychology,Bar-Ilan University,Ramat-Gan,Israel
| | - G Halevi
- Department of Psychology,Bar-Ilan University,Ramat-Gan,Israel
| | - O Zagoory-Sharon
- The Gonda Brain Sciences Center,Bar-Ilan University,Ramat-Gan,Israel
| | - R Feldman
- The Gonda Brain Sciences Center,Bar-Ilan University,Ramat-Gan,Israel
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Greene CA, Chan G, McCarthy KJ, Wakschlag LS, Briggs-Gowan MJ. Psychological and physical intimate partner violence and young children's mental health: The role of maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms and parenting behaviors. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 77:168-179. [PMID: 29358121 PMCID: PMC5857234 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Young children are at significant risk of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), and vulnerable to exposure-related psychopathology, yet few studies investigate the effects of exposure to IPV on children under the age of 5 years. The current study investigated the role of maternal PTSD symptoms and parenting strategies in the relationship between mothers' IPV experiences and psychopathology in their young children, ages 3-6 years in a community-based cohort of 308 mother-child dyads at high risk for family violence. Data were collected from 2011 to 2014. IPV history and maternal PTSD symptoms were assessed by self-report questionnaires. Children's symptoms were assessed with a developmentally-sensitive psychiatric interview administered to mothers. Punitive/restrictive parenting was independently-coded from in-depth interviews with mothers about their disciplinary practices. Hypothesized direct and indirect pathways between physical and psychological IPV, maternal PTSD, maternal parenting style, and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms were examined with mediation models. Results indicated that neither physical nor psychological IPV experienced by mothers was directly associated with children's symptoms. However, both types of victimization were associated with maternal PTSD symptoms. Examination of indirect pathways suggested that maternal PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between mothers' psychological and physical IPV experiences and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms and mothers' restrictive/punitive parenting mediated the relationship between mothers' psychological IPV and children's externalizing symptoms. In addition, there was a path from maternal physical IPV to child externalizing symptoms through both maternal PTSD symptoms and restrictive/punitive parenting. Findings highlight the importance of supporting parents in recovering from the sequelae of their own traumatic experiences, as their ensuing mental health symptoms and parenting behaviors may have a significant impact on their children's emotional health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A Greene
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
| | - Grace Chan
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Kimberly J McCarthy
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Lauren S Wakschlag
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 633 N. St. Clair, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Margaret J Briggs-Gowan
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
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Lang AJ, Gartstein MA. Intergenerational transmission of traumatization: Theoretical framework and implications for prevention. J Trauma Dissociation 2018; 19:162-175. [PMID: 28509617 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2017.1329773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Intergenerational transmission of traumatization (ITT) occurs when traumatized parents have offspring with increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems. Although fetal exposure to the maternal biological milieu is known to be one factor in ITT, PTSD-driven parent-child interactions represent an additional important and potentially modifiable contributor. The Perinatal Interactional Model of ITT presented herein proposes that PTSD leads to social learning and suboptimal parent-child interactions, which undermine child regulatory capacity and increase distress, largely explaining poor social-emotional outcomes for offspring of parents with PTSD. Psychosocial intervention, particularly when delivered early in pregnancy, holds the possibility of disrupting ITT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel J Lang
- a VA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH) , University of California San Diego , San Diego , California , USA
| | - Maria A Gartstein
- b Department of Psychology , Washington State University , Pullman , Washington , USA
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Feeley N, Hayton B, Gold I, Zelkowitz P. A comparative prospective cohort study of women following childbirth: Mothers of low birthweight infants at risk for elevated PTSD symptoms. J Psychosom Res 2017; 101:24-30. [PMID: 28867420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Feeley
- Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre for Nursing Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Barbara Hayton
- Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ian Gold
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Philosophy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Phyllis Zelkowitz
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Gargano LM, Dechen T, Cone JE, Stellman SD, Brackbill RM. Psychological Distress in Parents and School-Functioning of Adolescents: Results from the World Trade Center Registry. J Urban Health 2017; 94:597-605. [PMID: 28321793 PMCID: PMC5610121 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-017-0143-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Poor school-functioning can be indicative of parent and adolescent mental health and adolescent behavior problems. This study examined 472 adolescents enrolled in the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry, with a two-step path analysis, using regression-based models, to unravel the relationships between parent and adolescent mental health, adolescent behavior problems, and adolescent unmet healthcare need (UHCN) on the outcome school-functioning. WTC exposure was associated with UHCN and parental mental health was a significant mediator. There was no evidence that family WTC exposure was associated with UHCN independent of its effect on parental mental health. For the second path, after accounting for the effects of adolescent mental health, behavioral problems, and UHCN, there remained a significant association between parental mental health and school-functioning. Interventions for poor school-functioning should have multiple components which address UHCN, mental health, and behavioral problems, as efforts to address any of these alone may not be sufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Gargano
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, 7th Floor, Long Island City, NY, 11101, USA.
| | - Tenzin Dechen
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, 7th Floor, Long Island City, NY, 11101, USA
| | - James E Cone
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, 7th Floor, Long Island City, NY, 11101, USA
| | - Steven D Stellman
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, 7th Floor, Long Island City, NY, 11101, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Robert M Brackbill
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, 7th Floor, Long Island City, NY, 11101, USA
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Shachar-Dadon A, Gueron-Sela N, Weintraub Z, Maayan-Metzger A, Leshem M. Pre-Conception War Exposure and Mother and Child Adjustment 4 Years Later. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 45:131-142. [PMID: 27081009 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-016-0153-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Evidence is accumulating for the transgenerational effects of maternal stress on offspring. A particular increasing concern is the possible transgenerational effects of community exposure to war and terror. Here, 107 mothers that had been exposed to war, were assessed with their 3 year old children (52 % girls) who had been conceived after the end of the war, and thus never directly exposed to war. The circumscribed nature (missile bombardment) and temporal limits (34 days) of the tragic 2006 Lebanon war in the north of Israel, affords a unique methodological opportunity to isolate an epoch of stress from preceding and subsequent normal life. We find that war experience engenders higher levels of mothers' separation anxiety, lower emotional availability in mother-child interaction, and lower levels of children's adaptive behavior. The novelty of these findings lies in documenting the nature and strength of transgenerational effects of war-related stress on offspring that were never exposed. In addition, because these effects were obtained after 4 years of a continuing period of normality, in which the children were born and raised, it suggests that an extended period of normality does not obliterate the effects of the war on mother and child behavior as assessed herein. Despite the study limitations, the results are indicative of persisting transgenerational effects of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noa Gueron-Sela
- Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Zalman Weintraub
- Neonatal Department, Western Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
| | | | - Micah Leshem
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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Hamiel D, Wolmer L, Pardo-Aviv L, Laor N. Addressing the Needs of Preschool Children in the Context of Disasters and Terrorism: Clinical Pictures and Moderating Factors. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2017; 19:38. [PMID: 28534295 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-017-0793-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This paper surveys the existent theoretical and research literature regarding the needs of preschool children in the context of disasters and terrorism with the aim of understanding (a) the consequences of such events for young children and (b) the main moderating variables influencing the event-consequence association to learn how to enhance their resilience. RECENT FINDINGS Consequences include a variety of emotional, behavioral, and biological outcomes. Implications for refugee children are discussed. Main moderating variables were mother's sensitivity and mother's PTSD symptoms. Exposure to disasters and terrorism may have severe effects on the mental health and development among preschool children. Future research should explore the implications of different levels of exposure and the effects of moderating psychosocial and biological variables, including the parent-child triad, on the event-consequence relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hamiel
- Donald J. Cohen & Irving B. Harris Resilience Center, Association for Children at Risk, Tel-Aviv, Israel. .,Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Herzlyia Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel. .,Tel-Aviv-Brüll Community Mental Health Center, Clalit Health Services, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
| | - Leo Wolmer
- Donald J. Cohen & Irving B. Harris Resilience Center, Association for Children at Risk, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Herzlyia Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel
| | - Lee Pardo-Aviv
- Donald J. Cohen & Irving B. Harris Resilience Center, Association for Children at Risk, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Nathaniel Laor
- Donald J. Cohen & Irving B. Harris Resilience Center, Association for Children at Risk, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Departments of Psychiatry and Medical Education, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Pat-Horenczyk R, Cohen S, Ziv Y, Achituv M, Brickman S, Blanchard T, Brom D. Stability and Change in Posttraumatic Distress: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study of Mothers and Young Children Exposed to Cumulative Trauma. J Trauma Stress 2017; 30:115-124. [PMID: 28407321 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Revised: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
In situations of cumulative trauma, it is often unclear why some people remain resilient, whereas others experience distress, and how likely these responses are to change over time. To investigate the constancy of responses to cumulative trauma, stability and change in posttraumatic distress and resistance (as defined by no evidence of clinical symptoms) were assessed twice in 140 Israeli children and mothers exposed to continual rocket attacks over approximately 7 years, when the children were 2-4 (Time 1) and 9-11 years of age (Time 2). Measures included trauma exposure, posttraumatic and depressive symptoms, and child behavioral problems. We identified 4 longitudinal courses (LCs): resilient (resistance at Time 1 and Time 2), recovered (clinical distress at Time 1 and resistance at Time 2), developed symptoms (resistance at Time 1 and clinical distress at Time 2), and chronic distress (clinical distress at Time 1 and Time 2). Results showed more stability than change in the frequencies of resistance at both times of measurement. The resilient LC was the most common longitudinal course for both mothers and children. Multinomial regression models indicated that maternal posttraumatic symptoms predicted the recovered and chronic distress LCs of the children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Pat-Horenczyk
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sarale Cohen
- Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yuval Ziv
- Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - M Achituv
- Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sophie Brickman
- Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tamar Blanchard
- Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Danny Brom
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
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Gargano LM, Locke S, Brackbill RM. Parent Physical and Mental Health Comorbidity and Adolescent Behavior. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH 2017; 19:358. [PMID: 29249908 PMCID: PMC5730089 DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821.1000358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to ascertain behavioral outcomes 10-11 years after 9/11 in adolescents ages 11-18 years (0-8 years old at the time of 9/11) enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry (Registry), and relate these outcomes to their 9/11-exposures and to parent health. Behavioral difficulties among adolescents were assessed using the adolescent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Parental post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was assessed using a 9/11-specific PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, a cut-off score of 44 or greater was considered probable PTSD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations of 9/11-exposure and parental health with abnormal/borderline SDQ scores, adjusting for demographic variables that were significantly associated with the SDQ score in bivariate analyses. Of the 449 adolescents, 12.5% (n=56) had abnormal/borderline SDQ scores. In the multivariable model, adolescents with severe/ moderate 9/11-exposures were 2.4 times more likely to have abnormal/borderline SDQ scores compared to adolescents with mild 9/11-exposures (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.1-6.4). Adolescents who had a parent with 9/11-related PTSD and at least one comorbid chronic condition were 4.2 times more likely to have abnormal/borderline SDQ scores compared to adolescents with a parent who had no reported chronic health conditions. Adolescents whose parent reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the preceding 30 days were 3.4 times more likely to have abnormal/borderline SDQ scores (95% CI: 1.2-9.5) The finding that parents' health appears to influence adolescent behavior problems 10-11 years following a disaster may have implications for healthcare practitioners and disaster response planners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Gargano
- World Trade Center Health Registry, Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY 10013
| | - Sean Locke
- World Trade Center Health Registry, Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY 10013
| | - Robert M. Brackbill
- World Trade Center Health Registry, Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY 10013
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Muzik M, Morelen D, Hruschak J, Rosenblum KL, Bocknek E, Beeghly M. Psychopathology and parenting: An examination of perceived and observed parenting in mothers with depression and PTSD. J Affect Disord 2017; 207:242-250. [PMID: 27732922 PMCID: PMC5107117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The postpartum period represents a major transition in the lives of many women, a time when women are at increased risk for the emergence of psychopathology including depression and PTSD. The current study aimed to better understand the unique contributions of clinically significant postpartum depression, PTSD, and comorbid PTSD/depression on mother-infant bonding and observed maternal parenting behaviors (i.e., behavioral sensitivity, negative affect, positive affect) at 6 months postpartum. METHODS Mothers (n=164; oversampled for history of childhood maltreatment given parent study's focus on perinatal mental health in women with trauma histories) and infants participated in 6-month home visit during which dyads engaged in interactional tasks varying in level of difficulties. Mothers also reported on their childhood abuse histories, current depression/PTSD symptoms, and bonding with the infant using standardized and validated instruments. RESULTS Mothers with clinically significant depression had the most parenting impairment (self-report and observed). Mothers with clinically significant PTSD alone (due to interpersonal trauma that occurred predominately in childhood) showed similar interactive behaviors to those who were healthy controls or trauma-exposed but resilient (i.e., no postpartum psychopathology). Childhood maltreatment in the absence of postpartum psychopathology did not infer parenting risk. LIMITATIONS Findings are limited by (1) small cell sizes per clinical group, limiting power, (2) sample size and sample demographics prohibited examination of third variables that might also impact parenting (e.g., income, education), (3) self-report of symptoms rather than use of psychiatric interviews. CONCLUSIONS Findings show that in the context of child abuse history and/or current PTSD, clinically significant maternal depression was the most salient factor during infancy that was associated with parenting impairment at this level of analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Muzik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Diana Morelen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jessica Hruschak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Erika Bocknek
- College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Marjorie Beeghly
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Halevi G, Djalovski A, Vengrober A, Feldman R. Risk and resilience trajectories in war-exposed children across the first decade of life. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2016; 57:1183-93. [PMID: 27572904 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the effects of early-onset trauma on susceptibility to psychopathology are well-acknowledged, no study to date has followed risk and resilience trajectories in war-exposed young children over lengthy periods and charted predictors of individual pathways. METHOD In this prospective longitudinal study, we followed 232 children, including 148 exposed to repeated wartime trauma and 84 controls, at three time points: early childhood (1.5-5 years), middle childhood (5-8 years), and late childhood (9-11 years). Children were diagnosed at each time point and four trajectories defined: children exhibiting no pathology at any time point, those displaying early pathology that later remitted, those showing initial resilience followed by late pathology, and children presenting chronic pathology across the entire first decade. Maternal behavioral containment during trauma evocation and child social engagement during free play were observed in early childhood and maternal emotional distress self-reported across time. RESULTS War-exposed children showed significantly higher rates of psychopathology, with 81% exhibiting pathology at some point during childhood. In middle childhood, exposed children displayed more posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), and in late childhood more PTSD, conduct/oppositional defiant disorders, and ADHD. War-exposed children had more comorbid psychopathologies and number of comorbidities increased with age. Notably, war-exposure increased prevalence of chronic pathology by 24-fold. Maternal factors, including mother's uncontained style and emotional distress, increased risk for early and chronic psychopathology, whereas reduced child social engagement augmented risk for late pathology. CONCLUSIONS Early-onset chronic stress does not heal naturally, and its effects appear to exacerbate over time, with trauma-exposed children presenting a more comorbid, chronic, and externalizing profile as they grow older. Our findings demonstrate that responses to trauma are dynamic and variable and pinpoint age-specific effects of maternal and child factors on risk and resilience trajectories. Results highlight the importance of conducting long-term follow-up studies and constructing individually tailored early interventions following trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galit Halevi
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Amir Djalovski
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Adva Vengrober
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Ruth Feldman
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel. .,The Gonda Brain Sciences Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
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