Maternal childhood abuse and neglect predicts offspring development in early childhood: The roles of reflective functioning and child sex.
Child development
Child sex
Childhood trauma
Intergenerational trauma
Mentalization
Journal
Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 2022
06 2022
Historique:
received:
30
06
2020
revised:
01
03
2021
accepted:
11
03
2021
pubmed:
24
3
2021
medline:
24
5
2022
entrez:
23
3
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Recent evidence suggests that offspring of mothers having been exposed to childhood abuse and neglect (CA&N) are at increased risk of developmental problems and that boys are more affected by maternal CA&N than girls. Since impairments in reflective functioning (RF) have been associated with maternal CA&N and offspring development, RF could represent a key mechanism in these intergenerational risk trajectories. This study evaluated mediating (RF) and moderating (child sex) mechanisms in the association between maternal CA&N and child development. In a longitudinal setting, 111 mothers completed measures during pregnancy and between 11 and 36 months postpartum. CA&N and impairments in RF were assessed during pregnancy and offspring development was measured during the longitudinal follow-up using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3). Child development was operationalized in two ways: using the global score at the ASQ-3 and using a dichotomous score of accumulation of delays across domains of development. Structural equation modeling indicated that RF mediated the association between maternal CA&N and offspring development. Child sex moderated the association between CA&N and the clustering of developmental problems (Wald = 5.88, p = 0.02), with boys being particularly likely to accumulate developmental delays when their mother experienced CA&N (RR = 2.62). Accumulation of developmental problems was associated with impairments in maternal RF in girls and with maternal exposure to CA&N in boys. Results provide novel insights on the role of mentalization and child sex in the association between maternal CA&N and child development.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Recent evidence suggests that offspring of mothers having been exposed to childhood abuse and neglect (CA&N) are at increased risk of developmental problems and that boys are more affected by maternal CA&N than girls. Since impairments in reflective functioning (RF) have been associated with maternal CA&N and offspring development, RF could represent a key mechanism in these intergenerational risk trajectories.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated mediating (RF) and moderating (child sex) mechanisms in the association between maternal CA&N and child development.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
In a longitudinal setting, 111 mothers completed measures during pregnancy and between 11 and 36 months postpartum.
METHODS
CA&N and impairments in RF were assessed during pregnancy and offspring development was measured during the longitudinal follow-up using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3). Child development was operationalized in two ways: using the global score at the ASQ-3 and using a dichotomous score of accumulation of delays across domains of development.
RESULTS
Structural equation modeling indicated that RF mediated the association between maternal CA&N and offspring development. Child sex moderated the association between CA&N and the clustering of developmental problems (Wald = 5.88, p = 0.02), with boys being particularly likely to accumulate developmental delays when their mother experienced CA&N (RR = 2.62). Accumulation of developmental problems was associated with impairments in maternal RF in girls and with maternal exposure to CA&N in boys.
CONCLUSIONS
Results provide novel insights on the role of mentalization and child sex in the association between maternal CA&N and child development.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33752901
pii: S0145-2134(21)00103-4
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105030
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
105030Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.