Adverse Childhood Experiences, Maternal/Fetal Attachment, and Maternal Mental Health.

Jennifer Hinesley,Robert A Perera,Susan Kornstein,Ronald Ramus,Aradhana Sood,Ananda Amstadter

doi:10.1089/whr.2020.0085

Abstract

Background: This pilot study investigated the potential impact of exposure to childhood adversity on variables known to be related to posttraumatic stress (including attachment, mental health, and perceived stress) in a clinic sample of pregnant women.Materials and Methods: Participants consisted of 101 pregnant women recruited from the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond, VA. All participants completed the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire, Parental Bonding Instrument, Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist, Symptom Checklist, and the Perceived Stress Scale.Results: Increased exposure to ACEs was negatively associated with retrospective report of viewing one's mother and father as caring and involved. ACE exposure was a statistically significant predictor of viewing one's mother and father as intrusive and controlling. ACEs were positively associated with self-reported PTSD symptoms, depressive and anxious symptomatology, and perceived stress. No direct effect of adverse childhood events on maternal/fetal attachment was found.Conclusions: ACE associations are discussed in terms of study methodology and needs for future research. Providers may consider incorporating the ACE questionnaire to identify exposure to childhood adversity and events that may increase an individual's risk for toxic stress and negative health outcomes.

Highlights

Since the publication of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study,[1] there has been growing and consistent evidence that exposure to childhood maltreatment and family household disturbance is associated with an array of physical and mental health problems
Background: This pilot study investigated the potential impact of exposure to childhood adversity on variables known to be related to posttraumatic stress in a clinic sample of pregnant women
The present pilot study investigated the potential impact of exposure to ACEs on maternal outcome variables

Summary

Introduction

Since the publication of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study,[1] there has been growing and consistent evidence that exposure to childhood maltreatment (e.g., physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect) and family household disturbance (e.g., death of a parent, exposure to parental substance abuse, or criminal activity) is associated with an array of physical and mental health problems. It has been estimated that childhood adversity accounts for 26% to 32% of the risk for all adolescent and adulthood psychiatric disorders attributed at a population level.[4] The effects of exposure to adversity extend beyond psychiatric impacts to include diminished cognitive functioning and compromised health status.[5] Individuals who have experienced childhood adversity are more likely to experience immune disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer,[1] and to have premature mortality.[6] Such individuals are at increased risk of experiencing interpersonal violence throughout development into adulthood, either as a victim or perpetrator, and to have a lower quality of Departments of 1Family Medicine and Population Health, 2Psychiatry, 3Biostatistics, and 4Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA This pilot study investigated the potential impact of exposure to childhood adversity on variables known to be related to posttraumatic stress (including attachment, mental health, and perceived stress) in a clinic sample of pregnant women. Providers may consider incorporating the ACE questionnaire to identify exposure to childhood adversity and events that may increase an individual’s risk for toxic stress and negative health outcomes

Methods

Results

Conclusion