Prenatal Attachment, Parental Confidence, and Mental Health in Expecting Parents: The Role of Childhood Trauma

Abstract

Introduction: Exposure to childhood abuse or neglect may lead to negative outcomes during pregnancy in expecting parents, which may contribute to a negative experience of childbearing and have consequences for the developing fetus. This study examined the associations between exposure to childhood abuse or neglect, psychological symptoms, prenatal attachment, and perception of parental competence in expectant parents. Methods: Individuals at low sociodemographic risk were recruited in community perinatal care settings and completed self-report assessment measures of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociation, personality disorders, perception of parental competence, and prenatal attachment. Results: There were 322 participants (78% women), including 91 adults with a history of childhood abuse or neglect, Participants who were exposed to childhood abuse or neglect reported significantly higher levels of symptoms on all indices of mental health than nonexposed adults, even when controlling for sociodemographic risks. However, both groups reported similar levels of prenatal attachment and parental confidence. The impact of childhood maltreatment was similar in men and women. Structural equation modeling showed that childhood abuse or neglect leads to poor mental health and that poor mental health, but not childhood maltreatment, is associated with low parental confidence and prenatal attachment. Discussion: Psychological symptoms are frequent in expectant parents who experienced maltreatment during their childhood. However, childhood abuse or neglect is not associated with their attitude regarding parenthood and the child in the absence of psychopathology. Supporting mental health may be an important target of parental programs offered during pregnancy to women and men with a history of childhood abuse or neglect.

Uptrend in distress and psychiatric symptomatology in pregnant women during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

“…Dissociation was measured with the depersonalization/derealization (six items) and absorption/imaginative involvement (nine items) subscales of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II). 22,23 The instrument was previously used in samples of pregnant women 24 and has good validity and reliability. 22,23 The Cronbach's α for the DES in this study was 0.75 for the depersonalization subscale and 0.83 for the absorption subscale.…”

Uptrend in Distress and Psychiatric Symptomatology in Pregnant Women During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

“…Dissociation was measured with the depersonalization/derealization (6 items) and absorption/imaginative involvement (9 items) subscales of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II). 22,23 The instrument was previously used in samples of pregnant women 24 and has good validity and reliability. 22,23 The Cronbach's alpha for the DES in this study was of .75 for the depersonalization subscale and .83 for the absorption subscale.…”

Association entre la fréquence de consultation des médias d’information et la détresse psychologique chez les femmes enceintes durant la pandémie de COVID-19: Association between news media consulting frequency and psychological distress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Ce résultat soutiendrait une autre recommandation de l’OMS qui dit de privilégier les mises à jour quotidiennes au sujet de la COVID-19 comparativement à consommer un flot constant d’actualités 22 . La connaissance des mises à jour critiques concernant le virus et les mesures de santé publique permet de réviser les comportements adoptés afin de se protéger 22 tandis qu’une consommation ininterrompue d’informations apporte peu de nouvelles données utiles pour se mettre en action 32 . Conséquemment, ces informations pourraient générer de la rumination, phénomène associé au développement et au maintien de l’anxiété et de la dépression 43 .…”

“…Un seuil de signification clinique de 15 est utilisé en période prénatale 31 . Le questionnaire a été utilisé auprès d’échantillons de femmes enceintes 32 et présente d’excellentes qualités psychométriques en cours de grossesse 33,34 . Le coefficient alpha de Cronbach est de 0,86 dans notre échantillon.…”