Maternal Child Abuse Research Articles

Trauma and Parenting Beliefs: Exploring the Ethnotheories and Socialization Goals of Palestinian Mothers

Parenting beliefs are important to infant wellbeing, but there is a lack of research into their role in war conditions. We examined (1) how maternal traumatic experiences (war events and childhood abuse) and mental health would be associated with parenting beliefs about good childrearing practices (ethnotheories) and desirable child characteristics (socialization goals) and (2) whether parenting beliefs mediate the impact of traumatic experiences and mental health on mother–infant interaction and infant development. Palestinian mothers (N = 510) participated during pregnancy and at four and 12 months postpartum. They reported current traumatic war events, emotional and physical abuse in their own childhood and mental health (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms), their ethnotheories and socialization goals and the quality of dyadic mother–infant interactions and infant developmental skills (language, fine-motor, and gross-motor). High maternal exposure to traumatic war events was associated with higher autonomy-enhancing—and lower relatedness-enhancing—socialization goals. Conversely, maternal childhood abuse was associated with higher relatedness-enhancing—and lower autonomy-enhancing—socialization goals. High maternal exposure to traumatic war events was associated with high levels of positive dyadic interaction, whereas high emotional and physical abuse and mental health problems were associated with low levels of positive dyadic interaction. Parenting beliefs did not mediate the impact of maternal traumatic experiences and mental health on dyadic interaction or infant development. The nature of maternal traumatic experiences was central for the socialization goals in unique and specific ways. The findings emphasize the meaningfulness of parenting values, goals, and practices among mothers caring for their infants in war conditions.

Intimate partner violence and maternal child abuse: The mediating effects of mothers’ postnatal depression, mother-to-infant bonding failure, and hostile attributions to children’s behaviors.

Intimate partner violence and maternal child abuse: The mediating effects of mothers’ postnatal depression, mother-to-infant bonding failure, and hostile attributions to children’s behaviors.

Maternal childhood abuse and children’s emotional-behavioral difficulties: Intergenerational transmission via birth outcomes and psychosocial health.

Understanding the mechanisms and psychosocial pathways potentially underlying the association between maternal childhood abuse exposure and poor child health and wellbeing is important to inform opportunities for support and intervention early in the period of becoming a parent. The aim of the study was to investigate whether adverse birth outcomes and psychosocial health issues (maternal depressive symptoms, exposure to intimate partner violence in the first postnatal year) are potential mechanisms underlying the association between maternal childhood abuse and children's emotional-behavioral functioning at 10 years. Data were drawn from 1,507 first-time mothers and their 10-year-old children participating in the Maternal Health Study, a prospective study of women's health during pregnancy and after birth. One in four women reported that they had experienced physical or sexual abuse in childhood. Children whose mothers had experienced either of these types of childhood abuse had significantly higher emotional-behavioral difficulties than children whose mothers had not. Psychosocial health pathways via maternal depressive symptoms and exposure of mothers to intimate partner violence in the first 12 months postpartum, but not adverse birth outcomes, mediated the association between maternal childhood abuse and children's emotional-behavioral difficulties. These findings underscore the need to support mothers who have experienced childhood abuse and psychosocial health issues, both as a means of promoting maternal health and mitigating the potential intergenerational risks for children's emotional and behavioral health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The Consistency of Maternal Childhood Abuse Reporting in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period.

Background: Toxic stress resulting from childhood abuse can lead to poorer physical and mental health for pregnant women and their unborn children. To provide a clinical response to these experiences, momentum to incorporate questionnaires about childhood adversity, including abuse, into patient care is building. Limiting factors to this initiative are concerns regarding the consistency of abuse reporting before age 18. The current study evaluated the consistency of retrospective child abuse reports using two different questionnaires and examined factors that predict inconsistency. Method: A sample of 1,912 women from a prospective longitudinal birth cohort reported on physical, sexual, and emotional abuse experienced before age 18 at 34-36 weeks of pregnancy using an extended questionnaire and again at 36 months postpartum using a short-form questionnaire. Psychosocial factors, including depression, anxiety, stress, and social support at both time points were assessed as predictors of potential inconsistency. Results: The majority of women were consistent in their child abuse reporting from pregnancy to the postpartum period (65.1%-90%). Higher rates of childhood abuse were reported in the postpartum period. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that higher maternal depression in pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-1.08) predicted inconsistency in report of all abuse experiences, while higher social support in pregnancy predicted less inconsistency in physical abuse (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98-0.99) in particular. Higher postpartum social support was associated with less inconsistency overall, whereas higher depression was associated with increased inconsistency in physical abuse reporting (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06). Conclusions: Upon reevaluation, a questionnaire with clear adversity descriptions yielded greater retrospective reports of childhood abuse in the postpartum period. Women of higher psychosocial risk may be at greatest risk of inconsistent abuse reports. Thus, the questionnaire structure and individual characteristics of the reporter may play an important role in the report obtained.

Parental childhood maltreatment and the later-life relationship with parents.

The aims of the current study were to examine the long-term effects of childhood maltreatment on current relationships with parents and whether the quality of current relationships with parents mediates the associations between childhood maltreatment and psychological health in late adulthood. Using 2 decades of longitudinal data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, multilevel structural equation modeling was employed to examine the associations between reports of childhood maltreatment, aspects of current relationships with parents (i.e., perceived closeness, contact frequency, and exchange of social support), and psychological well-being/distress of adult children. Key results indicated that reports of maternal childhood abuse and neglect predicted lower levels of perceived closeness with aging mothers, which were subsequently associated with reduced psychological well-being of adult children. We did not find evidence of mediation between reports of paternal childhood abuse/neglect, current relationships with fathers, and psychological outcomes. Our findings suggest a significant linkage between childhood and later-life intergenerational relationships. Adults who were maltreated by their mother as children may continue to experience challenges in this relationship. Further research is needed to examine how these past and current relational dynamics affect caregiving experiences and outcomes. In addition, when intervening with adults with a history of childhood maltreatment, practitioners should evaluate contemporary relationship quality with the abusive mother and help address any unresolved emotional issues with the parent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Postpartum Depression Prevention through the Mother-Infant Dyad: The Role of Childhood Trauma

Most interventions to prevent postpartum depression (PPD) focus on the mother rather than the mother-infant dyad, and most do not consider the possibility of the impact of maternal trauma history. The goal of the current study was to examine the moderating effect of maternal childhood maltreatment (CM) on the effectiveness of a dyadic intervention in preventing PPD.

Intergenerational Impacts of Family Violence - Mothers and Children in a Large Prospective Pregnancy Cohort Study

BackgroundViolence and other adversities commonly co-occur, yet are usually investigated individually. The primary objectives of this paper are to investigate: (i) the relationship between maternal exposure to violence (including childhood abuse and intimate partner violence) and postpartum mental and physical health; and (ii) the extent to which exposure to violence and poor maternal mental and physical health are associated with children's emotional-behavioral difficulties. MethodsProspective pregnancy cohort (n = 1507) followed up to 4 year postpartum. Validated measures used: Composite Abuse Scale; Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, SF-36, Child Maltreatment History Self Report; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between maternal childhood abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), maternal health and child emotional and behavioral difficulties at age 4. OutcomesTwo out of five women (41%) reported abuse in childhood, and almost one in three (29%) reported IPV during the first four years of motherhood. Women reporting both physical and sexual childhood abuse had markedly raised odds of IPV and poor physical and mental health at all time points (pregnancy, first year postpartum and four year postpartum). For the index child, violence exposures (maternal childhood abuse or IPV) and poor maternal physical or mental health were associated with higher odds of emotional/behavioral difficulties at age four. In multivariable models (adjusted for child gender and maternal age), cumulative exposures (multiple violence exposures or poor maternal mental or physical health at multiple time points) each independently added to increased odds of emotional-behavioral difficulties. Children of mothers who reported a history of childhood abuse but were not exposed to IPV had odds of difficulties similar to children of mothers not reporting any violence exposure, suggesting resilient outcomes where violence experiences are not repeated in the next generation. InterpretationThe clustering of risk (child and adult violence experiences) and the accumulation of risk within families (IPV, poor maternal health, child difficulties) highlight the need for effective early intervention to limit or ameliorate the impact of violence across the lifespan, and to break the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.

Effects of Parental Childhood Abuse on Daily Stress Processes in Adulthood.

Extensive evidence suggests that exposure to childhood abuse can lead to harmful health effects across a lifetime. To contribute to the literature, the current study examined whether and how a history of parental childhood abuse affects exposure to and severity appraisal of daily stressors in adulthood, as well as emotional reactivity to these stressors. We analyzed 14,912 daily interviews of 2,022 respondents from the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences. Multilevel modeling was utilized to analyze nested data, in that each person provided repeated measures of daily experience for eight consecutive study days. Results showed that more frequent experience of maternal childhood abuse was associated with more severe appraisal of daily stressors. In addition, adults with more frequent maternal childhood abuse exhibited greater emotional reactivity to daily stressors. The current study provides evidence that a history of parental childhood abuse may serve as a vulnerability factor in the process of experiencing and responding to stressful events encountered in daily life. Future research should further explore the long-term health effects of daily stress and emotional experience among adults with a history of parental childhood abuse. Interventions for these adults should focus on promoting emotional resilience in the face of daily stress.

Associations of postpartum mother-infant bonding with maternal childhood maltreatment and postpartum mental health: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAfter delivery, some women experience impairment of their mother-infant bonding (MIB), which can lead to long-term disturbances of the mother-child relationship and the child’s social-emotional development. Little is known about the association between early maternal bonding problems and mothers’ own adverse childhood experiences, even though the hypothesis of the intergenerational transmission of caregiving indicates continuity in parenting quality across generations. Therefore, the current study aimed at examining the relationship between maternal childhood maltreatment and postpartum MIB, controlling for the role of postpartum mental health.MethodsFrom February 2014 to March 2015, 725 women completed self-report measures 2 months postpartum. Maternal childhood maltreatment was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, postpartum depression with the Revised Beck Depression Inventory, postpartum anxiety with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, and postpartum MIB with the abridged version of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire. Data were analysed using a hierarchical regression analysis.ResultsAlmost 46% of the included women reported at least one type of childhood maltreatment with emotional neglect being most prevalent. 13% displayed at least mild postpartum depressive symptomatology and 20% scored above the 75th percentile for postpartum anxiety. In the final regression model, which explained 29% of variance, higher severity of maternal emotional neglect in childhood, higher levels of postpartum depression and higher education were significantly related to more postpartum MIB impairment. In contrast, higher severity of maternal physical neglect was significantly associated with less postpartum MIB impairment.ConclusionsThis study is the first to explore the relationship between diverse types of maternal childhood maltreatment and postpartum MIB, adjusting for postpartum mental health. Maternal experiences of emotional neglect and postpartum depressive symptoms could serve as indicators to identify and support mothers with heightened risk for bonding problems, but results need to be validated in longitudinal studies.

A Role of Oxytocin Receptor Gene Brain Tissue Expression Quantitative Trait Locus rs237895 in the Intergenerational Transmission of the Effects of Maternal Childhood Maltreatment.

Women exposed to childhood maltreatment (CM) are more likely to exhibit insensitive parenting, which may have consequences for their offspring's development. Variation in the oxytocin-receptor gene (OXTR) moderates risk of CM-associated long-term sequelae associated with mother-child attachment, although functionality of previously investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) remained elusive. Here, we investigated the role of OXTR rs237895, a brain tissue expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL), as a moderator of the relationship between CM and maternal behavior (MB) and the association between MB and offspring attachment security. Of 110 women with information on rs237895 genotype (T-allele= 64, CC= 46), 107 had information on CM (CTQ) and 99 on standardized observer-based ratings of MB at 6 months postpartum (responsivity and detachment), which were used in principal component analysis to obtain a latent factor representing MB. Offspring (n= 86) attachment was evaluated at 12 months of age. Analyses predicting MB were adjusted for socioeconomic status, age, postpartum depression, and genotype-based ethnicity. Analyses predicting child attachment were adjusted for infant sex, socioeconomic status, and postpartum depression. rs237895 significantly moderated the relationship between CM and MB (F1;66= 7.99, p< .01), indicating that CM was associated with maternal insensitivity only in high-OXTR-expressing T-allele carriers but not in low-OXTR-expressing CC homozygotes. Moreover, maternal insensitivity predicted offspring insecure attachment (B= -0.551; p< .05). Women with a high OXTR expressing genotype are more susceptible to CM-related impairments in MB that, in turn, predict attachment security in their children, supporting the role of the OT system in the intergenerational transmission of risk associated with maternal CM.

Maternal childhood adversity, OXTR genotype and cognitive load impact on perceptual and behavioral responses to infant crying

The crying of infants elicits aversive feelings and poses a risk for child abuse. Maternal childhood maltreatment can have negative parenting ability consequences and interact with the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) single nucleotide polymorphism (rs53576) to predict maternal response to infant distress stimuli. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of individual vulnerability differences to situational cognitive load in parenting situations. The current study, in which 124 mothers participated in a standardized infant vocalization paradigm, examined three-way interaction on subjective empathy, behavior intention, and handgrip force response to a crying infant. Participants were asked to squeeze a handgrip dynamometer at maximal and half strength while memorizing a meaningless alphabet syllable as the cognitive load manipulation. Significant interactions were also observed between OXTR rs53576, childhood adversity, and cognitive load when predicting excessive force and harsh response intention on hearing a crying infant. These findings suggested that, as the G allele carriers of OXTR rs53576 appear to be susceptible to the effects of severe childhood adversity, inter- and intra-individual approaches are needed when assessing maternal responses to infant stimuli.

OXTR brain tissue expression quantitative locus rs237895 moderates the association between maternal childhood maltreatment and non-optimal maternal behavior with implications for offspring socio-emotional development and attachment security

Crystalline metal-organic frameworks of divalent transition metal terephthalate belong to a new kind of high-capacity lithium storage materials. In this paper, CoCl2 aqueous solution and CoCl2·6H2O particles are comparatively used as starting materials to react with aqueous lithium terephthalate (Li2TP), resulting in the hierarchical architectures of dihydrate cobalt terephthalate (CoTP·2H2O No.1, No.2) by a solution-based π-π stacking self-assembly, respectively. Each of the two hydrated samples, as well as its well-crystallized anhydrous counterpart (CoTP No.1 or No.2), acquire a specific surface area no bigger than 4.5 m2 g−1 but deliver a reversible capacity no less than 815.0 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 in the 100th cycle. The decreasing order of lithium-storage capability (CoTP·2H2O No.1 < CoTP·2H2O No.2 < CoTP No.1 < CoTP No.2) and its reverse trend of charge-transfer resistance indicate an adverse effect of crystal water, conflicting with the previously demonstrated enhancement of crystal water in inorganic cupric oxalate hydrates. Especially, combining voltage profile with its differential curve clearly reveals a 12-electron transfer lithiation-delithiation mechanism, which explains the ultrahigh reversible capacity (1234.2 mAh g−1, the 350th cycle) of CoTP No.2 structure and indicates a successful approach to the facile preparation of the organic anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

Intergenerational continuity/discontinuity of child maltreatment among low-income mother-child dyads: The roles of childhood maltreatment characteristics, maternal psychological functioning, and family ecology.

Despite evidence of some intergenerational continuity of maltreatment, a notable proportion of parents maltreated in childhood do not perpetuate the cycle of maltreatment. The aim of this study was to identify factors that would distinguish mother-child dyads where intergenerational continuity was present from dyads characterized by intergenerational discontinuity. The sample included 193 children and their mothers, drawn from two populations: 74 maltreated children recruited through Child Protection Services and 119 nonmaltreated children recruited among low-income families. Factors investigated included maternal childhood maltreatment, psychological functioning, and family ecology. Compared to maltreated mothers who broke the cycle of maltreatment, those who perpetuated the cycle were more likely to have experienced childhood physical neglect and multitype maltreatment, and to experience sociodemographic risk, intimate partner violence, and lack of family support. Compared to nonmaltreated mothers who maintained a nonmaltreating child-rearing environment: (a) maltreated mothers who broke the cycle were more likely to experience residential instability and lack of family support, and (b) nonmaltreated mothers whose child was maltreated were more likely to experience sociodemographic risk and lack of family support. Maternal psychological functioning did not discriminate maltreatment groups. Lending empirical support to a diathesis-stress model of poor parenting, these findings suggest that family-ecology related stress, but not maternal psychological difficulties, may create additional burden that will precipitate the risk of maltreatment intergenerational continuity.

SU95TRANSDIAGNOSTIC FAMILY HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS, EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL ADVERSITY, AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN YOUTH

Childhood maltreatment is associated with pregnancy complications. This study aimed to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize the strength of the associations between maternal histories of childhood maltreatment and the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes.Subject Headings and keywords for childhood maltreatment and the pregnancy outcomes were searched in MEDLINE (Ovid; 1946-Present), PsycINFO (Ovid; 1806-Present), and Web of Science Core Collection. Original studies or dissertations that reported quantitative associations between childhood maltreatment and any of the pregnancy outcomes of interest were included. Two independent reviewers selected the pertinent studies, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted data. Pooled effect sizes were calculated for the three outcomes.Twenty-eight studies were reviewed and 22 were meta-analysed. Maternal childhood maltreatment was associated with preterm birth (OR = 1.27 95% CI: 1.06–1.52, p = 0.001), low birth weight (OR = 1.42 95% CI: 1.10–1.83, p = 0.001), and gestational diabetes (RR = 1.37 95% CI: 1.02–1.83, p = 0.030), however high levels of heterogeneity were found. Findings were insignificant for studies examining gestational age and birth weight as continuous variables.Findings confirm that under certain conditions, childhood maltreatment is associated with pregnancy outcomes. Future research should prioritize mediation and moderation models to clarify the mechanisms underlying these relationships. Trauma-informed care is needed to tailor the appropriate care for expecting mothers.

Childhood maltreatment, attachment, and borderline personality-related symptoms: Gender-specific structural equation models.

Survivors of early interpersonal trauma may experience relational problems, anger, impulsive and self-destructive behaviors, identity disturbance, and other difficulties that are associated with borderline personality disorder. Insecure attachment also has been documented in survivors and may be related to borderline personality-related symptoms (BPRS). The goal of the current study was to examine an integrative model of maternal and paternal childhood maltreatment and insecure attachment as they predict BPRS. The sample was composed of 954 participants who completed self-report measures of parental maltreatment during childhood, attachment security, and trauma-related symptoms. Structural equation modeling suggested differential impacts of maternal and paternal maltreatment on male and female participants. Both maternal and paternal maltreatment were directly associated with BPRS in women, whereas in men, only paternal maltreatment was directly related to BPRS. In women, paternal maltreatment was indirectly associated with BPRS through attachment anxiety but not through attachment avoidance. In men, maternal maltreatment was indirectly associated with BPRS through attachment anxiety but not through attachment avoidance. These findings have implications for the understanding of gender-specific etiologies of borderline personality symptoms and underscore attachment security as an important intervention target. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Substance Abusing Mothers with a History of Childhood Abuse and Their Children's Depressive Symptoms: The Efficacy of Family Therapy.

This study examined the associations among maternal history of childhood abuse, substance use, and depressive symptoms and the change in children's depressive symptoms in therapy. Mothers (N=183) were randomly assigned into either a family or an individual treatment condition. Mothers were assessed for their childhood abuse retrospectively, baseline depressive symptoms, and substance use, whereas their children's depressive symptoms were measured five times during 1.5years. Maternal childhood abuse was associated with a slower decline in child depressive symptoms through elevated maternal depressive symptoms, only in individual treatment. Maternal substance use further moderated this mediation pathway. This study supports the efficacy of family therapy in protecting children of mothers with a substance use disorder and a history of childhood abuse.

Maternal ADHD Symptoms and Physical Child Abuse Risk: A Multi-Informant Study

Parents with ADHD may be at increased risk to engage in physical child abuse and, in turn, influence the developing child abuse risk of their children. The present study investigated the connection between maternal ADHD symptoms and their emerging adult child’s physical abuse risk, considering potential paths via maternal child abuse risk, maternal parenting style, and the child’s ADHD symptoms. The sample included 794 emerging adults and 146 of their mothers. Emerging adults and their mothers both reported on the ADHD symptoms of the mother, the ADHD symptoms of the emerging adult child, and the mothers’ parenting style. Each also independently reported on their own physical child abuse risk. Models indicate maternal ADHD predicted emerging adult children’s abuse risk directly and indirectly through the children’s ADHD symptoms but only weakly through parenting style and not through mothers’ child abuse risk. Child abuse risk appears related to ADHD symptoms in both generations, representing an area to address clinically to reduce the intergenerational patterns of child abuse risk.

Maternal Caregiving Practices and Child Abuse Experiences as Developmental Antecedents to Insecure Attachments: Differential Pathways Between Adolescents Who Commit Sexual and Non-Sexual Crimes.

Grady, Levenson, and Bolder's etiological framework contextualizes sexual offending behaviors through a trauma and attachment lens to suggest child abuse experiences (CAE) are associated with attachment problems that contribute to sexual offending. To empirically test a portion of this theory, this cross-sectional study employed a structural equation mediated-moderated model on a sample of juvenile justice-involved youth (N = 505) who committed sexual (n = 355) and non-sexual (n = 150) offenses. Results revealed a good model fit and statistically significant direct effects between maternal harsh and indifferent caregiving styles and insecure attachment. However, CEAs did not mediate the relationship between caregiving styles and insecure attachment. Results also revealed a moderation effect whereby youth who commit sexual crimes who report harsher and more indifferent maternal caregiving styles were more likely to have higher CAEs relative to youth who commit non-sexual crimes. Implications are discussed using a public health perspective of prevention.

Postpartum depression and resilience predict parenting sense of competence in women with childhood maltreatment history.

This study examines the effect of a history of childhood maltreatment (CM) on parenting sense of competence, taking into account the influence of resilience and postpartum depressive symptoms as moderators of this relationship. Participants (N = 131) were a community sample of women recruited into a larger study of maternal childhood maltreatment. Women completed questionnaires over the phone at 4months postpartum and parenting sense of competence (PSOC) was assessed during a home visit at 6months postpartum. A three-way interaction emerged; women with low depression and high resilience factors maintained high levels of PSOC, even when they had a CM history. In contrast, among women with one postpartum risk factor (depression or low resilience) CM was associated with decreased PSOC. Results suggest that a mother's well-being postpartum moderates the effect of a childhood maltreatment history on her parenting sense of competence. Reducing postpartum depressive symptoms and enhancing resilience may be important components for interventions that address parenting confidence with maltreated women.

Association of Maternal Exposure to Childhood Abuse With Elevated Risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Offspring.

Children whose mothers experienced childhood abuse are more likely to suffer various neurodevelopmental deficits. Whether an association exists specifically for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unknown. We examined the association of maternal experience of childhood abuse with ADHD in offspring, assessed by maternal report of diagnosis and validated with the ADHD Rating Scale-IV in a subsample, in the Nurses' Health Study II (n = 49,497 mothers; n = 7,607 case offspring; n = 102,151 control offspring). We examined whether 10 adverse perinatal circumstances (e.g., prematurity, smoking) or socioeconomic factors accounted for a possible association. Exposure to abuse was associated with greater prevalence of ADHD in offspring (8.7% of offspring of women exposed to severe abuse vs. 5.5% of offspring of women not abused, P = 0.0001) and with greater risk for ADHD when the model was adjusted for demographic factors (male offspring, risk ratio (RR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 1.9; female offspring, RR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7, 3.0). After adjustment for perinatal factors, the association of maternal childhood abuse with ADHD in offspring was slightly attenuated (male offspring, RR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 1.8; female offspring, RR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.6, 2.8). We identified an association between maternal experience of childhood abuse and risk for ADHD in offspring, which was not explained by several important perinatal risk factors or socioeconomic status.