Abstract
IntroductionAs an especially burdensome experience, childhood maltreatment (CM) can have lifelong consequences on the mental health and wellbeing of an individual well into adulthood. We have previously reported that CM constitutes a central risk factor not only for the development of mental problems, but also for facing additional psychosocial risks, endangering healthy development of mother and offspring throughout life (e.g., financial problems, intimate partner violence, substance use). This study was designed to replicate these findings in a larger, independent study cohort.MethodIn this cross-sectional replication study an independent cohort of 533 healthy postpartum women was interviewed within seven days after parturition. CM experiences were assessed retrospectively using the German version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and current psychosocial risk factors for child welfare were assessed using the Konstanzer Index (KINDEX).ResultsOf all women, 16.1% experienced emotional and 10.1% physical abuse, 28.5% emotional neglect, 9.4% physical neglect and 10.3% experienced sexual abuse. Most importantly, the higher the CM load the more psychosocial stressors existed in women's life. In Particular, women with higher CM load had a higher risk for mental health problems, intimate partner violence, financial problems, and a higher postnatal stress load.ConclusionsIn an independent sample, this study replicated the previous findings that CM and psychosocial risk factors for child welfare were strongly associated in a dose-response manner. Our results emphasize the higher vulnerability of women with a CM history in the postpartum period. To avoid negative consequences for mother and child, a regular and evidence-based screening for CM and psychosocial risk factors during pregnancy and puerperium is needed to identify at-risk mothers early during pregnancy and to provide appropriate support. Hence, our findings highlight the mandatory requirement for an interdisciplinary collaboration of gynecological practices, hospitals and midwifes, along with psychologists and psychotherapists and child and youth welfare services.
Highlights
As an especially burdensome experience, childhood maltreatment (CM) can have lifelong consequences on the mental health and wellbeing of an individual well into adulthood
This study aimed at replicating the findings by Koenig et al [20] in a larger and independent sample of healthy postpartum women with varying degrees of CM using the same study design, recruitment strategies, and data analysis, determining the prevalence rates of maternal childhood maltreatment experiences, establishing the prevalence rates of psychosocial risk factors for maternal well-being and child welfare and testing the hypothesis that higher CM load would be associated with a higher burden of psychosocial risk factors among a community sample of healthy mothers giving birth to a child
A-Level) and more than a half had graduated from university (57.1%; n = 304). 84.2% of the women (n = 448) and 85.2% (n = 453) of the fathers were of German origin
Summary
As an especially burdensome experience, childhood maltreatment (CM) can have lifelong consequences on the mental health and wellbeing of an individual well into adulthood. Childhood maltreatment (CM), i.e., experiencing sexual abuse as well as physical and emotional abuse or neglect, is considered a major psychological, psychosocial, and biological risk factor for wellbeing and health [1] and a major public health problem [2, 3]. According to large scale representative studies a significant proportion of up to 47 % of adults have experienced at least one type of CM at some point during their childhood or adolescence [4–10] This can elicit detrimental sequelae for wellbeing, development and health across the whole lifespan: CM experiences are associated with an altered functioning of the biological stress-response systems [e.g., [11–13]], poorer physical and mental health and disadvantageous socio-economic and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., conflicted relationships, high stress level, poor attachment styles) which persist throughout life [14, 15]. As a result of these physical and emotional stressors, the risk for mental health problems is increased in postpartum women [18, 19]
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