Effects of maternal trauma and associated psychopathology on atypical maternal behavior and infant social withdrawal six months postpartum. Issue 6 (2nd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burtchen, Nina; Alvarez-Segura, Mar; Urben, Sébastien; Giovanelli, Chiara; Mendelsohn, Alan L.; Guedeney, Antoine; Schechter, Daniel S.
• Is Part Of: Attachment & human development. Volume 24:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 750
• Page End: 776
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02
• Subjects: Maternal trauma -- maternal depression -- maternal PTSD -- atypical maternal behavior -- infant behavior; Attachment behavior -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; 155.418
• DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2022.2142894
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-6734

Abstract

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.