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Although animal models and correlational studies support a model of fetal programming as a mechanism in the transmission of risk for psychopathology from parents to children, the experimental studies that are required to empirically test the model with the human prenatal dyad are scarce. With a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, we critically examined the evidence regarding the neurobiological and behavioral changes in infants as a function of randomized clinical trials to prevent or reduce maternal depression during pregnancy, treating randomized clinical trials as experiments testing the fetal programming model. Based on 25 articles that met inclusion criteria, we found support for interventions designed to change maternal prenatal mood being associated with changes in offspring functioning, but with a very small effect size. Effect sizes ranged broadly, and were higher for younger children. The findings enhance understanding of putative mechanisms in the transmission of risk from women's prenatal depression to infants' vulnerabilities to, and early signs of, the development of psychopathology. We note limitations of the literature and suggest solutions to advance understanding of how preventing or treating depression in pregnant women might disrupt the transmission of risk to the infants.

Perhaps unlike other social roles that people may hold, caring for children offers opportunities for both immense joy and incredible frustration. Yet what predicts how parents will feel during caregiving experiences? In the current study, we examined parents' (N = 152) positive emotion, negative emotion, and felt meaning during caregiving using the Day Reconstruction Method. In addition, we tested attachment anxiety and avoidance as predictors of parents' emotion during caregiving relative to their other daily experiences. We found that attachment avoidance was associated with elevated negative emotion and reduced positive emotion and meaning in life across the entire day, whereas attachment anxiety was associated with elevated negative emotion and marginally greater meaning in life, but not positive emotion, across the entire day. Furthermore, caregiving was associated with greater positive emotion and meaning, but not negative emotion, compared to parents' other daily activities. Finally, attachment avoidance, but not anxiety, was associated with lower levels of positive emotion, negative emotion, and felt meaning during caregiving compared to other daily activities. These findings are consistent with other evidence that attachment avoidance is associated with deactivation of emotion in close relationships and suggest that attachment avoidance minimizes the joys of parenting.

A large and diverse literature has shown that parent–child relationship quality shapes development to affect later romantic relationship functioning. Guided by the developmental psychopathology framework, the current systematic review aimed to characterize the links between two major subtypes of parent–child relationship quality (parent–child attachment security and interaction quality) and several romantic relationship outcomes (i.e., adjustment, attachment security, aggression, and observed interaction quality), as well as to identify mechanisms accounting for these associations. We focused on studies that included both members of a couple/partnership for dyadic assessment of romantic relationship functioning, to more accurately and fully capture both partners’ perspectives. A total of 40 articles met inclusion criteria, most of which sampled early/emerging adult couples between the ages of 18 and 26 years. Findings suggest that parent–child attachment security and interaction quality have similar associations with dyadic romantic relationship functioning, with the strongest evidence of effects on romantic relationship adjustment and observed interactions between romantic partners. Many studies found gender differences in effects, as well as cascading effects across development and over the course of a relationship. We argue that it is important for future studies to explore effects of one partner’s parent–child relationship quality history on the other partner’s romantic relationship adjustment and behavior, and to evaluate the extent to which parent–child attachment security mediates associations between parent–child interaction quality and romantic relationship functioning.

Objective: Childhood maltreatment is often associated with low adulthood romantic relationship quality, which may sustain effects of maltreatment on psychopathology symptoms during pregnancy. The current study assessed whether low romantic relationship quality mediates the link between higher levels of childhood maltreatment and elevated prenatal psychopathology symptoms. Method: This cross-sectional study sampled 101 low-income, ethnically diverse pregnant women (M age ϭ 29.10 years, SD age ϭ 6.56, range age ϭ 18 -44; 37% Latina, 22% African American, 20% White, 21% biracial/multiracial/other; 70% living below the federal poverty line). Participants responded to questionnaires on childhood maltreatment and current depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The participants also completed the Five-Minute Speech Sample, later coded for romantic relationship quality by trained raters. Results: Higher levels of childhood maltreatment were associated with greater prenatal depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, mediated by lower romantic relationship quality. Exploratory analyses revealed that both childhood maltreatment subtypes of abuse and neglect were associated with romantic relationship conflict, but only childhood neglect was associated with romantic partner support. All analyses covaried for language (English or Spanish) and poverty status. Conclusion: Romantic relationship quality may represent an important target for clinical interventions to reduce prenatal psychopathology symptoms and improve family well-being, especially when pregnant women have histories of childhood maltreatment.

Romantic partner support from the father-to-be is associated with women’s mental health during pregnancy. However, most studies of partner support rely upon women’s responses to self-report questionnaires, which may be biased and should be corroborated by efficient, coder-rated measures of partner support. This study tested whether the Five-Minute Speech Sample (FMSS), adapted to assess expressed emotion about romantic partners, can provide information about partner support during pregnancy that is less prone to bias than self-report. Participants were 101 low-income, ethnically diverse pregnant women who completed self-report questions on partner support quality and the FMSS. Self-reported and coder-rated (FMSS) partner support were highly correlated and were each significantly associated with self-reported depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, perceived stress, and partner victimization during pregnancy. Self-reported and coder-rated support corresponded in approximately 75% of cases; however, nearly 25% of women self-reported high support but received low FMSS support ratings. These women reported elevated PTSD symptoms, perceived stress, and victimization during pregnancy. While self-reported partner support may be valid for many respondents, the FMSS is less susceptible to reporting biases and may better identify women facing heightened psychopathology and stress during pregnancy, who would benefit from supportive intervention.

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