Impact of maternal childhood abuse history on child’s attachment problems

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the independent impact of maternal childhood abuse history (MCAH), after controlling for maternal past, current parenting, and paternal past parenting, and maternal mental health (MMH) on the attachment problems of children living in mother-child homes in Japan. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among mothers (N=306) staying in 83 mother-child homes in Japan to assess mothers' and fathers' maltreatment toward their children before moving into the homes, mothers' current maltreatment, MMH and MCAH in relation to their children's (N=310) attachment problems. Results: MCAHs were significantly and independently associated with children's attachment problems after controlling for maternal past, current maltreatment, and paternal past maltreatment. Among covariates, MMH, especially dissociation, was independently significantly associated with children's attachment problems. Conclusions:The finding that MCAH has a significant impact on children's attachment problems, independent of parental maltreatment, suggests inter-generational continuity of child maltreatment.

Effects of maternal history of depression and early life maltreatment on children's health-related quality of life

“…We found no effect of maternal history of ELM on child HRQoL even though previous research has shown that ELM poses a general risk factor for child functioning in terms of psychiatric and attachment problems (Bosquet Enlow et al, 2016;Mizuki et al, 2015). We conclude that maternal history of ELM has differential effects on distinct aspects of health as defined by the WHO (1948): Maternal ELM may not affect children's subjective experience of well-being even though it poses a higher risk for psychopathology.…”