Mother-child attachment patterns in mothers with and without a history of adverse childhood experiences

Karakaş, Nazmi Mutlu; Sarı, Burcu Akın; Aksakal, Fatma Nur; Özdemir, Dilşad Foto; Dağlı, Figen Şahin

doi:10.1007/s12144-020-00657-9

Cited by 6 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Unlike Iyengar et al [ 41 ], Karakas et al [ 69 ] did not find a relationship between trauma and the intergenerational transmission of attachment. Karakas et al [ 69 ] examined mothers with a history of abuse and neglect: almost two-thirds of mothers had experienced physical abuse, over half had experienced emotional abuse, almost a third had experienced neglect, and about 6% had experienced sexual abuse. Some mothers had experienced more than one type of abuse.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…All but one study used appropriate outcome variables and valid measures. Karakas et al [ 69 ] provided incorrect information on the procedure for coding the SSP, which limits our capacity in being able to judge whether this measure was used in a valid way. Additionally, they used the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) to evaluate a mother’s attachment with her own parent.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study each examined parental reflective functioning and trauma-specific functioning. Interestingly, although they did not measure reflective functioning directly, Karakas et al [ 69 ] suggested this construct may be the underlying process that affected their results. No studies examined mindfulness, self-compassion, or other aspects of mentalization, as reflective functioning is a concept comparable to mentalization [ 82 ], despite strong theories these constructs could be potential transdiagnostic mediators or moderators that may explain the transmission gap [ 49 , 53 , 57 , 82 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies that utilised direct and/or indirect measures all found evidence supporting the role of parent mental health in the intergenerational transmission of attachment, with one exception. Using the PBI to assess adult attachment, Karakas et al [ 69 ] found no significant difference between the attachment of mothers with and without a history of abuse to their children. The PBI is a measure of parenting behaviors however it was used in this study to evaluate a mother’s attachment with their own parent, likely accounting for the absence of a relationship demonstrated by other research outlined in this review.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The implications of parent mental health and wellbeing for parent-child attachment: A systematic review

2021

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Background Parent mental health and wellbeing may have implications for understanding attachment transmission. In this systematic review, we synthesise the published literature to determine the nature of the relationship between parent mental health and wellbeing and the intergenerational transmission of attachment and to provide recommendations for future research, clinical practice and intervention. Method Using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach, five electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed empirical studies, published in English. Articles were considered for inclusion if data was collected on adult attachment, child attachment, and a domain of parent mental health/wellbeing. No date parameters were applied to the search strategy. The review was registered with PROPSERO (registration number: CRD42020157247). Results Eleven studies examining the impact on parent mental health and wellbeing on the intergenerational transmission of attachment were identified for inclusion in this review. Our review found preliminary evidence that parent mental health and wellbeing play a role in the intergenerational transmission of attachment. Other key findings from the review were: evidence quality is mixed due to variable measurement of attachment and mental health; studies have mostly included correlational analysis or do not utilise contemporary methodological approaches to testing mediating or moderating relationships; and literature is largely focused on psychopathology and negative factors of mental health. Conclusions The limited scope of parent mental health and wellbeing constructs examined in the literature, the sparse use of robust statistical analyses, and the lack of literature in general makes it difficult to draw conclusions on how and why parent mental health impacts attachment transmission. Addressing these limitations will further progress attachment-related literature and may have particular implications for attachment-informed interventions with clinical populations.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The implications of parent mental health and wellbeing for parent-child attachment: A systematic review

2021

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“…When adolescents are handling stressful situations, mothers with high psychological flexibility in their parenting can effectively provide them with a safe haven [ 41 ]. Effectively providing a safe haven to adolescents can promote the formation of secure mother–adolescent attachment between mothers and adolescents [ 42 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing Adolescent Anxiety: The Roles of Mothers, Teachers and Peers

Chen

Gong

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Grounded in social–ecological system theory, the present study tested the mediating effects of maternal psychological flexibility and mother–adolescent attachment on the relationship between maternal adult attachment and adolescent anxiety as well as the moderating effects of teacher support and peer support on the relationship between mother–adolescent attachment and adolescent anxiety. In total, 1139 Chinese mothers and adolescents completed a set of questionnaires, including the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, Parental Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The results revealed that maternal adult attachment had a positive impact on adolescent anxiety. The relationship between maternal adult attachment and adolescent anxiety was chain mediated by maternal psychological flexibility and mother–adolescent attachment. In addition, teacher support and peer support had moderating effects on the relationship between mother–adolescent attachment and adolescent anxiety. These findings support the systematic social ecosystem perspective and highlight the differences in the effects of different maternal adult attachment styles, teacher support, and peer support on adolescent anxiety.

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Adverse childhood experiences, emotional distress and dissatisfaction with motherhood among first-time mothers: Mediations and child differences

Akintunde,

Chen,

Isangha

et al. 2024

Camb. prisms Glob. ment. health

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Despite the challenges associated with motherhood, studies have not consistently identified factors contributing to first-time mothers' dissatisfaction with motherhood in resource-limited regions. To fill this research gap, this study investigates how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) result in first-time mothers' dissatisfaction with motherhood through emotional distress in Nigeria. Results from the partial least square structural equation model suggests that ACEs are associated with dissatisfaction with motherhood (β = 0.092; p < 0.01) and emotional distress (β = 0.367; p < 0.001). There is also a significant association between emotional distress and dissatisfaction with motherhood (β = 0.728; p < 0.001). Indirect path from first-time mothers' ACEs to dissatisfaction with motherhood through emotional distress shows significance (β = 0.267; 95% CI (0.213, 0.323); p < 0.001). In addition, the indirect path from first-time mothers' ACEs to dissatisfaction with motherhood through child emotional closeness showed significant dampening effects (β = 0.044; 95% CI (0.025, 0.066); p < 0.001). No serial impact of emotional distress and child emotional closeness was found in the study. The findings based on child gender indicated that only among first-time mothers of female children are ACEs predictors of dissatisfaction with motherhood. Trauma-informed interventions should be introduced in primary care settings to screen for ACEs and emotional dysfunctions among first-time mothers. Impact statementTransitioning to motherhood can be stressful for first-time mothers, causing psychological problems such as emotional distress and dissatisfaction. Aside from being an abusive, neglectful and other traumatic experiences disrupting life outcomes, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are often a significant catalyst for emotional distress and dissatisfaction with motherhood. Providing support for first-time mothers in resource-limited populations requires understanding the intersection between ACEs and dissatisfaction with motherhood. This study provided empirically supported evidence that ACEs can cause emotional distress in first time mothers in low socioeconomic settings such as Nigeria. The effects of ACEs on dissatisfaction with motherhood are not independent but function through emotional distress. Moreover, early episodes of ACEs may affect mother-child emotional attachments (i.e., mothers' emotional closeness to their children) and, in turn, contribute to first-time mothers' dissatisfaction with motherhood. Therefore, traumainformed interventions are essential for first-time mothers to navigate motherhood in Nigeria. Furthermore, consideration should be given to the gender of children, as mothers may feel dissatisfaction with motherhood differently depending on their children's gender as a result of their ACEs. familiar, known world to an unfamiliar, unknown world, where a mother develops a new identity, which includes navigating pregnancy, assuming a new role, bonding with the new child and learning how to be a mothe...

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Mother-child attachment patterns in mothers with and without a history of adverse childhood experiences

Cited by 6 publications

References 34 publications

The implications of parent mental health and wellbeing for parent-child attachment: A systematic review

The implications of parent mental health and wellbeing for parent-child attachment: A systematic review

Factors Influencing Adolescent Anxiety: The Roles of Mothers, Teachers and Peers

Adverse childhood experiences, emotional distress and dissatisfaction with motherhood among first-time mothers: Mediations and child differences

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