The role of childhood trauma and attachment state of mind in mothers’ birth experiences

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Annaleena Holopainen - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Marije L. Verhage - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Carlo Schuengel - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Susan Garthus-Niegel - , Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Author)
  • Danny Horesh - , Bar-Ilan University, New York University (Author)
  • Antje Horsch - , University of Lausanne (Author)
  • Mirjam Oosterman - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)

Abstract

Negative birth experiences are common. It is yet unclear which women may be most at risk already before pregnancy. Childhood trauma and non-autonoumous/unresolved attachment state of mind may affect how women experience giving birth. This study used longitudinal data to test childhood trauma and attachment state of mind as predictors of birth experience in at-risk sample of primipara women (N = 193). The Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire and the Adult Attachment interview were administered during pregnancy, and women reported about their birth experience three months postpartum. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling was applied to answer the research questions. Childhood physical neglect and parental substance abuse were predictive of a more negative birth experience, while attachment state of mind was not associated with how women experienced giving birth. Cross-validation suggests that these findings may be considered externally valid. Further research using validated measures on birth experience are needed.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)567-587
Number of pages21
JournalAttachment and Human Development
Volume26
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-7472-674X/work/175765309

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • adult attachment interview, Adverse childhood experiences, attachment state of mind, birth experience, childhood trauma, PLS-SEM, Adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma, attachment state of mind, adult attachment interview, birth experience, PLS-SEM