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This study aims to assess whether mothers reporting high and low child abuse potential differ in their experiences of childhood abuse and use of defense mechanisms, and to examine factors which might predict child abuse potential. 120 pregnant mothers in their third trimester completed demographic questionnaires, trauma and abuse potential measures, and a semi-structured parenting interview, which was coded for defense mechanisms. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance were conducted to determine group differences of mothers with high and low abuse potential. A stepwise linear regression was conducted to identify variables which significantly predicted abuse potential. Mothers reporting high abuse potential were found to have significantly greater emotional and physical childhood abuse experiences, greater immature defense use, and lower overall defensive functioning than mothers with low abuse potential. Emotional abuse and immature defense use significantly predicted total child abuse potential scores. Results are consistent with existing literature and provide a novel approach to understanding influences on child abuse potential including maternal history of childhood abuse and current defense mechanisms. These variables further serve as points of prevention and intervention for improving the negative outcomes associated with intergenerational risk for child abuse., Author(s): Jillian E. Grabowski [sup.1] , John H. Porcerelli [sup.1] , Laura Richardson [sup.2] , Katelyn Lowe [sup.1] , Lee Eshelman [sup.1] , Alissa Huth-Bocks [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.266243.7, [...]

The impact of COVID-19 stressors on young children and families may differ based on pre-pandemic factors, including family race/ethnicity, financial stability, and pre-existing child developmental or social-emotional difficulties. The authors draw from their work with families with toddlers and preschool-aged children to explore experiences of the pandemic on families and how perceived stress has changed over time. They also demonstrate unique experiences of families by examining the impact of COVID-related stress across race. Addressing areas where additional supports are likely needed to support families with young children is a focus. [This article was co-written by the Michigan Collaborative for Infant Mental Health Research, University of Michigan.]

Altered motor and social-communicative abilities in infancy have been linked to later ASD diagnosis. Most diagnostic instruments for ASD cannot be utilized until 12 months, and the average child is diagnosed substantially later. Imitation combines motor and social-communicative skills and is commonly atypical in infants at risk for ASD. However, few measures have been developed to assess infant imitation clinically. One barrier to the diagnostic age gap of ASD is accessibility of screening and diagnostic services. Utilization of caregiver report to reliably screen for ASD mitigates such barriers and could aid in earlier detection. The present study developed and validated a caregiver-report measure of infant imitation at 4, 6, and 9 months and explored the relationship between caregiver-reported imitation and motor abilities with later ASD risk. Participants (N = 571) were caregivers of term and preterm infants recruited as part of a large multi-site study of PediaTrac™, a web-based tool for monitoring and tracking infant development. Caregivers completed online surveys and established questionnaires on a schedule corresponding to well-child visits from birth to 18 months, including the M-CHAT-R/F at 18 months. Distinct imitation factors were derived from PediaTrac at 4, 6, and 9 months via factor analysis. The results supported validity of the imitation factors via associations with measures of infant communication (CSBS; ASQ). Imitation and motor skills at 9 months predicted 18-month ASD risk over and above gestational age. Implications for assessment of infant imitation, detecting ASD risk in the first year, and contributing to access to care are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregiver report is the most feasible way to assess early childhood development but is susceptible to the influences of response style and sociodemographic factors. In a sample of 571 caregiver-infant dyads (47.8% female; 48% White), we compared caregiver reports on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Third Edition (ASQ-3) with reports on a novel, web-based assessment, PediaTrac™. Ratings on PediaTrac correlated with ratings on the ASQ-3 at all time points (2, 4, 6, and 9 months). Caregiver age, response style, and sociodemographic factors accounted for significant variance on both measures. Developmental reporting of early childhood skills is influenced by caregiver response style and sociodemographic factors. These influences must be considered in order to ensure the accurate identification of infant developmental status.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the convergent validity of the Motor domain (MOT) of PediaTracTM v3.0, an online developmental tracking instrument based on caregiver reports, with fine and gross motor domains (ASQ-FM and ASQ-GM) of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) in infants between 2- and 9 months of age. Participants were caregivers of 571 infants born term or preterm (gestational age <37 weeks) enrolled in a multi-site psychometric study of PediaTracTM. Findings revealed significant correlations between MOT and ASQ-3 scores at 2, 4, 6, and 9 months across time periods, term-preterm status, and biological sex. A significantly higher percentage of infants born preterm, compared with those born at term, was identified as a moderate or high risk on both the ASQ-3 and PediaTrac. Future investigations are warranted to further examine the psychometric properties of the MOT domain, including sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatricians are well-positioned to screen for early childhood adversities, but effective responses to positive screens require an understanding of which adversities typically co-occur, and to what extent they are associated with other risk or protective factors. Among children seen at an urban academic pediatric practice, this study aimed to (1) examine the prevalence of different types of early adversity and protective experiences reported by primary caregivers, and (2) define latent classes of co-occurring adversities. Of 1434 children whose parents completed the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) at well-child visits during November 2019–January 2021, three classes of adverse experiences emerged, including those reporting low adversity (L; 73%), caregiver stress (CS; 17%), and both caregiver stress and depression (CSD; 10%). Among those who also completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q, n = 1373) and the Protective and Compensatory Experiences Scale (PACES, n = 1377), belonging to the L class was associated with lower ACE-Q and higher PACES scores. For parent-respondents only, ACE-Q scores were significantly greater for the CSD class compared to the CS and L classes. Pediatricians should attend to the needs of caregivers reporting both stress and depression, as these families may face especially high levels of adversity and low levels of protective factors.

Aim: To examine the extent to which estimates of a latent trait or underlying construct of motor ability differ in infants born at term and preterm, based on caregiver ratings of the motor domain of PediaTrac v3.0. Method: The sample consisted of 571 caregiver–infant dyads (331 born at term, 240 born preterm), 48% female, with 51.7% of caregivers identifying as an ethnic minority. Latent trait of motor ability was estimated based on item response theory modeling. Gestational group differences (term and preterm birth) were examined at the newborn/term‐equivalent, 2‐, 4‐, 6‐, 9‐, and 12‐month time points. Results: Caregiver ratings of latent trait of motor ability were reliably modeled across the range of abilities at each time point. While the group born preterm exhibited significantly more advanced motor abilities at the term‐equivalent time point, by 6 months the group born at term was more advanced. Biological sex difference main and interaction effects were not significant. Interpretation: Caregivers provided reliable, longitudinal estimates of motor ability in infancy, reflecting important differences in the motor development of infants born at term and preterm. The findings suggest that significant motor development occurs in infants born preterm from birth to the term‐equivalent time point and provide a foundation to examine motor growth trajectories as potential predictors in the early identification of neurodevelopmental conditions and needs. What this paper adds: Longitudinal caregiver ratings of motor function in early infancy yielded reliable estimates of the latent trait of motor ability.Motor ability at the term‐equivalent time point was higher in infants born preterm than infants born at term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is an international public health problem [...]

Patients present to primary care clinics with a variety of experiences, including exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other social determinants of health. The pervasive impact of early adversity on later healthcare outcomes has resulted in the development of trauma-informed care principles that can be applied to healthcare settings. The primary aim of this study is to improve understanding of patient and staff experiences within a trauma-informed urban healthcare setting to guide considerations and recommendations when implementing such a model. A phenomenologic approach was taken using an interpretivist paradigm to collect qualitative data by conducting patient and staff focus groups. The following themes were identified: the communal experience of significant trauma, lack of continuity of care and time for each appointment, the importance of a sense of community and standardization and normalization of asking about trauma, development of social support networks, and creating a safe and non-judgmental healthcare space. Based on findings, considerations for implementing a trauma-informed healthcare model are provided.

The childbearing years are further complicated when experiences of interpersonal trauma from childhood and/or adulthood lead to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Maternal symptoms of PTSD over time were examined in relation to supportive adult relationships and parenting experiences. Ninety-five primarily economically disadvantaged mothers reporting exposure to childhood maltreatment and/or intimate partner violence were assessed from pregnancy through 2-years postpartum. Latent class growth analysis of PTSD symptoms indicated a 2-group model: stable low (82%) and moderate dysfunction (18%). The stable low group reported higher levels of support from romantic partners and family members, but not friends, and lower levels of parenting distress compared to the moderate dysfunction group. Results highlight individual variability in adaptation after violence exposure; current support from romantic partners and family members may have helped maintain lower PTSD symptoms for some trauma-exposed mothers. Psychological interventions aimed at reducing the impact of trauma exposure on parenting should consider promoting ongoing social support., Author(s): Katherine L. Guyon-Harris [sup.1] , Sarah Ahlfs-Dunn [sup.1] , Alissa Huth-Bocks [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, 0000000106743006, grid.255399.1, , 341 MJ Science Building, 48197, [...]

The aim of the present study was to investigate intimate partner violence (IPV) involving children and the parenting role (e.g., preventing an intimate partner from providing parental care or threatening to take one's children away). Specifically, the study examined whether this form of IPV affects maternal functioning above and beyond other IPV experiences. Participants included a community sample of 120 primarily low-income, single women, diverse in age, education, and ethnicity, who were interviewed 1 year after giving birth, as part of a longitudinal study. IPV involving children and the parenting role was significantly associated with other experiences of IPV, especially general psychological IPV. Multiple regression analyses revealed that this form of IPV significantly affected mothers' personal, relational, and parental functioning. Results suggest that it is important to assess for IPV involving children and the parenting role when working with mothers. More research on this unique type of IPV is needed., Author(s): Sarah M. Ahlfs-Dunn[sup.1] , Alissa C. Huth-Bocks[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, 341 MJ Science, 48197, Ypsilanti, MI, USA Introduction Research concerning intimate partner violence [...]

We hypothesized that trajectories of domestic violence (DV), maternal depression, and household income (from pregnancy to age 4) would be differentially associated with instability and stability of attachment, as measured by the Strange Situation at ages 1 and 4. Participants were 150 women and children. Women were first assessed during pregnancy and then yearly when the children were 1 to 4 years old. Overall, attachment was unstable for 56% of the sample from age 1 to age 4. Trajectories of DV and income both predicted attachment patterns. Positive outcomes (secure-secure and insecure-secure) were related to initially low levels of DV that stayed constant or became lower as well as initially high or low levels of income that increased over time. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

Objective: The validity and clinical utility of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior, and Suicide Probability Scale (SPS) were examined longitudinally among suicidal adolescents. Method: Between 1998 and 2000, 289 psychiatrically hospitalized, suicidal youth, ages 12 to 17 years, participated in this study. Self-report measures were completed at baseline. Clinician-rated suicidality and suicide attempt were collected at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results: Baseline self-reports were internally consistent and strongly intercorrelated within male, female, white, and black subsamples. All of the measures predicted follow-up suicidality and suicide attempts. Using published cutoff scores, the Beck Hopelessness Scale and SPS were moderately to highly sensitive predictors of subsequent suicide attempts, as was the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior for predicting suicide attempts and broad suicidality. Alternative cutoff scores that predicted outcomes with moderate and high sensitivity also were examined, with attention to resultant sacrifices in specificity. Conclusions: Baseline self-report scores predicted follow-up suicidality. SPS contributed uniquely to prediction of future suicidality and suicide attempt. SPS may supplement other sources of information when assessing suicide risk with this population. (Contains 4 tables.)

Pediatricians are well-positioned to screen for early childhood adversities, but effective responses to positive screens require an understanding of which adversities typically co-occur, and to what extent they are associated with other risk or protective factors. Among children seen at an urban academic pediatric practice, this study aimed to (1) examine the prevalence of different types of early adversity and protective experiences reported by primary caregivers, and (2) define latent classes of co-occurring adversities. Of 1434 children whose parents completed the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) at well-child visits during November 2019–January 2021, three classes of adverse experiences emerged, including those reporting low adversity (L; 73%), caregiver stress (CS; 17%), and both caregiver stress and depression (CSD; 10%). Among those who also completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q, n = 1373) and the Protective and Compensatory Experiences Scale (PACES, n = 1377), belonging to the L class was associated with lower ACE-Q and higher PACES scores. For parent-respondents only, ACE-Q scores were significantly greater for the CSD class compared to the CS and L classes. Pediatricians should attend to the needs of caregivers reporting both stress and depression, as these families may face especially high levels of adversity and low levels of protective factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood abuse can have significant negative effects on survivors that often last into adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of romantic attachment in understanding the relationship between childhood abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adulthood. Data for this study were taken from the first wave of a five-wave longitudinal study. The sample included 120 mothers in their third trimester of pregnancy. Regression analyses were conducted in order to examine adult romantic attachment as a possible protective or vulnerability factor. Main effects of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on PTSD symptoms were found, such that higher levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were related to more PTSD symptoms. Attachment avoidance moderated this relationship, such that child abuse was significantly related to greater PTSD symptoms in those with high attachment avoidance. Implications for attachment-based interventions are discussed. Keywords Child abuse * Romantic attachment * Traumatic stress * Pregnancy, Childhood abuse, defined as experiences of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect, has been linked to many poor outcomes in adulthood such as mood disorders, posttraumatic stress, and [...]

Copyright of Infant Mental Health Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The development of maternal representations of the child during pregnancy guides a mother's thoughts, feelings, and behavior toward her child. The association between prenatal representations, particularly those that are disrupted, and toddler social-emotional functioning is not well understood. The present study examined associations between disrupted prenatal representations and toddler social-emotional functioning and to test disrupted maternal behavior as a mediator of this association. Data were drawn from 109 women from a larger prospective longitudinal study (N=120) of women and their young children. Prenatal disrupted maternal representations were assessed using the Working Model of the Child Interview disrupted coding scheme, while disrupted maternal behavior was coded 12-months postpartum from mother-infant interactions. Mother-reported toddler social-emotional functioning was assessed at ages 12 and 24 months. Disrupted prenatal representations significantly predicted poorer toddler social-emotional functioning at 24 months, controlling for functioning at 12 months. Further, disrupted maternal behavior mediated the relation between disrupted prenatal representations and toddler social-emotional problems. Screening for disrupted representations during pregnancy is needed to facilitate referrals to early intervention and decrease the likelihood of toddler social-emotional problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients present to primary care clinics with a variety of experiences, including exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other social determinants of health. The pervasive impact of early adversity on later healthcare outcomes has resulted in the development of trauma-informed care principles that can be applied to healthcare settings. The primary aim of this study is to improve understanding of patient and staff experiences within a trauma-informed urban healthcare setting to guide considerations and recommendations when implementing such a model. A phenomenologic approach was taken using an interpretivist paradigm to collect qualitative data by conducting patient and staff focus groups. The following themes were identified: the communal experience of significant trauma, lack of continuity of care and time for each appointment, the importance of a sense of community and standardization and normalization of asking about trauma, development of social support networks, and creating a safe and non-judgmental healthcare space. Based on findings, considerations for implementing a trauma-informed healthcare model are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from a multi-method, longitudinal study involving a community sample (N = 120) of pregnant women aged 18–42 were used to examine disrupted maternal representations of the child as a mechanism of the transmission of trauma from mother to infant. Using structural equation modeling, the best fitting model indicated that severity of mothers' childhood interpersonal trauma was associated with severity of disruption in prenatal representations of the child, which in turn was associated with less secure infant-mother attachment at 1 year of age. There was a significant indirect effect of maternal childhood interpersonal trauma on infant-mother attachment insecurity via disrupted prenatal maternal representations. Findings highlight an important mechanism of trauma transmission that could be targeted in interventions with mother-infant dyads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the impact of domestic violence on maternal and infant health by assessing maternal health during pregnancy and infant health at two months postpartum. Two hundred and two women (68 battered and 134 non-battered) were recruited from the community and completed both pregnancy and 2-month postpartum interviews. Results revealed that domestic violence during pregnancy was associated with numerous health problems for mothers and infants including more health problems during pregnancy, more likelihood of premature labor, later entrance into prenatal care, lower infant birth weight, greater utilization of health care resources, and more prenatal substance use. After income was controlled, the relationship between violence and timing of prenatal care and infant birth weight became nonsignificant. Maternal social support was found to protect against the effects of violence for several health outcomes. The current findings suggest the need for domestic violence screening during pregnancy, as well as clinical interventions for battered, pregnant women in order to prevent serious physical and emotional problems for both mothers and their infants.

This study examined changes in parental reflective functioning (PRF) among mothers enrolled in Infant Mental Health-Home Visiting (IMH-HV) and explored whether parental risk, treatment dosage or therapist experience predicted change in PRF. Participants included 75 mothers and their children who were enrolled in IMH-HV delivered by Community Mental Health therapists. Results indicated significant improvements in PRF from baseline to 12-months. Maternal demographic and psychosocial risk, therapist experience and treatment dosage were not directly associated with changes in PRF. However, Mothers who received more treatment sessions from therapists with six or more years of experience demonstrated the greatest improvements in PRF, while mothers who received more treatment sessions from therapists who had been practicing IMH for less than 15 months showed a decline in PRF. Therapists working with very high-risk families may need specific training and ongoing reflective supervision over a period of years to promote improvement in PRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A history of maltreatment during childhood (e.g., physical and sexual abuse, neglect) can threaten the fundamental human need to form and maintain relationships across development, which ensure safety and security. Furthermore, parental maltreatment history presents considerable risk for the emergence of disrupted parenting behaviors (i.e., contradictory communication, sexualized/role-reversed behavior, disorientation, intrusiveness/negativity, and severe withdrawal), which in turn are associated with children's social-emotional development. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether experiences of childhood maltreatment during pregnancy can predict risk for disrupted parenting behavior before the birth of the child. Given the inherent variability in parenting behaviors, we were interested in how different types or combinations of experiences of maltreatment during childhood are associated with later parenting behaviors. Data were drawn from 120 women from a longitudinal study that spanned from the third trimester of pregnancy through 3-year postpartum. In the current study, mothers' experiences of childhood maltreatment were assessed during pregnancy, and disrupted parenting behaviors were coded from videotaped mother–infant interactions 1-year postpartum. Four profiles of childhood maltreatment were identified using latent profile analysis: low exposure, high exposure, high sexual maltreatment, and high physical and emotional maltreatment. Results revealed that high exposure to multiple types of childhood maltreatment most strongly predicted later disrupted parenting behavior. Women with multiple exposures to different types of maltreatment during childhood may require more intense intervention during pregnancy to prevent risk for the development of disrupted parenting behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Researchers have linked parent experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) to engagement in more negative and less positive parenting behaviors with their own children. This parenting behavior is associated with more negative child social-emotional outcomes. There is little research examining the impact of exposure to IPV during childhood on subsequent parenting and child outcomes in the next generation. This study aimed to better understand the complex relationship between IPV, parenting, and child social-emotional development among mothers of toddler-aged children, using both mothers' self-reported and observed parenting. Method: This study utilized longitudinal data from an economically disadvantaged, racially diverse sample of 120 women who participated in data collection across the perinatal period, until children were 2 years of age. Measures included self-reported and observed parenting, mother-reported IPV history, and mother-report of toddler social-emotional difficulties. Results: Childhood exposure to IPV predicted observed parenting problems, which in turn predicted greater toddler social-emotional problems. Conversely, adult experiences of IPV predicted self-reported parenting difficulties, which predicted greater toddler social-emotional problems. Summary: Findings suggest that exposure to IPV at different time points may influence parenting in different ways, representing unique pathways between maternal IPV experiences and child social-emotional difficulties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Infant Mental Health Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)