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Parenting stress is common and may lead to worsening health, particularly in the context of other risk factors such as mental disorders or a history of abuse. This study investigated how parenting-related stress impacts the effect of abuse experiences on health among mothers with mental health disorders. Survey data was analyzed from 172 predominantly Hispanic mothers receiving outpatient behavioral health services. Most (80.2%) mothers had experienced abuse. Those reporting childhood abuse had 3.82 greater odds of experiencing abuse in adulthood. Findings demonstrated worse health outcomes among those experiencing abuse in both childhood and adulthood and those with a greater number of abuse experiences. Caregiving load intensified the relationship between abuse and anxiety and sleep disturbance. Parenting self-agency intensified the relationship between abuse and cigarette use. These findings have important implications for mental health nursing practice by identifying parenting-stress as an important target for interventions to improve health among women with histories of abuse and mental health disorders.

Little is known about relationships between child maltreatment and adulthood intimate partner violence (IPV), depression, and risky drinking in Latinas. 548 Latinas in a sexual health randomized control trial (RCT) self-reported childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, IPV, depression, and risky drinking. Childhood abuse was related to adulthood IPV, OR = 1.27, depression, OR = 2.02, and high-risk drinking, OR = 2.16. Childhood emotional abuse was linked to depression, OR = 2.19; childhood physical abuse to risky drinking, OR = 2.62; and childhood sexual abuse to depression, OR = 2.78 and risky drinking, OR = 2.38. Results may inform prevention/intervention efforts for mental health nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]