Chasson M, Taubman-Ben-Ari O. The contribution of adverse childhood experiences to postpartum maternal reflective functioning: A prospective examination of the role of maternal disintegrative responses and personal growth.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023;
143:106250. [PMID:
37301114 DOI:
10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106250]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) may negatively impact a mother's parental reflective functioning. However, if coping with this difficulty generates personal growth, it may help her to function in a positive reflective manner with her child.
OBJECTIVE
In a two-phase prospective study, we examined a mediation model and a moderated mediation model depicting the contribution of ACE (Phase 1), maternal disintegrative responses (intrusive thoughts and dissociative experiences; Phase 1), and personal growth (Phase 2) to maternal reflective functioning (Phase 2) as expressed in three dimensions: Pre-mentalizing Modes (PM), Certainty about Mental States (CMS), and Interest and Curiosity (IC).
METHOD
Three hundred and eighty-five Israeli women participated in the study 16 weeks after childbirth (Phase 1) and again 6-10 months postpartum (Phase 2).
FINDINGS
The mediation model revealed that maternal dissociative experiences fully mediated the relationship between ACE and PM, and maternal intrusive thoughts fully mediated the relationship between ACE and CMS. However, the moderated mediation model showed that these mediation relationships were dependent on the level of personal growth reported by the mother.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings highlight the vulnerability of mothers with ACE to function in a less reflective manner, as well as the effect of personal growth on their maternal functioning.
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