Impact of Maternal Early Life Maltreatment and Maternal History of Depression on Child Psychopathology: Mediating Role of Maternal Sensitivity?

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Katja Bödeker - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Anna Fuchs - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Daniel Führer - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Dorothea Kluczniok - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Katja Dittrich - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Corinna Reichl - , University of Bern (Author)
  • Corinna Reck - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Michael Kaess - , Heidelberg University , University of Bern (Author)
  • Catherine Hindi Attar - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Eva Möhler - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Corinne Neukel - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Anna Lena Bierbaum - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Anna Lena Zietlow - , University Hospital Heidelberg (Author)
  • Charlotte Jaite - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Ulrike Lehmkuhl - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Sibylle Maria Winter - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Sabine Herpertz - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Romuald Brunner - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Felix Bermpohl - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Franz Resch - , Heidelberg University  (Author)

Abstract

The study addresses the impact of maternal early life maltreatment (ELM) and maternal history of depression (HoD) on offspring’s mental health. Maternal sensitivity was examined as a potential mediator explaining the relationship between maternal ELM, maternal HoD and child psychopathology. Participants were 194 mothers with and without HoD and/or ELM as well as their children between 5 and 12 years. Maternal sensitivity was assessed using the Emotional Availability Scales. Parent and teacher ratings were utilized to assess child psychopathology. Path analyses showed an indirect effect of maternal HoD on parents’ ratings of child psychopathology with maternal sensitivity as mediating variable. In contrast, maternal ELM was directly linked to teachers’ ratings of child psychopathology; this effect was not mediated by maternal sensitivity. Our results indicate that the impact of maternal HoD, maternal ELM, and maternal sensitivity on offspring psychopathology might vary depending on the context in which child psychopathology is assessed.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)278-290
Number of pages13
JournalChild psychiatry & human development : the official journal of the Child Welfare League of America's AAPSC Child Mental Health
Volume50
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2019
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 30132095
ORCID /0000-0002-7278-5711/work/142233595

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Child maltreatment, Child psychopathology, Maternal depression, Parenting