HISTORY OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND MOTHER-INFANT INTERACTION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES

Infant Ment Health J. 2017 Mar;38(2):226-248. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21634. Epub 2017 Feb 25.

Abstract

Literature that has examined maternal self-reported history of abuse and an observational assessment of infant-mother interaction were reviewed. Electronic databases were searched, and studies that met predefined criteria were included. Fourteen (12 independent samples) studies were included and assessed for quality using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool (National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, 2008). Ten of the 14 studies found a direct or an indirect relationship between self-reported abuse and observed caregiving. The small number of studies and variation in sample characteristics and measurement limit conclusions. Of the studies that were rated of the highest quality, there is some consistency showing that the effect of maternal abuse history on caregiving may be via a third variable (i.e., stress reactivity or depressive symptoms). The current review discusses strengths and limitations of the existing literature and offers suggestions for future research.

Keywords: Erziehungsverhalten; Missbrauch in der Kindheit; Mutter-Säugling; abuso en la niñez; attachment; caregiving; childhood abuse; crianza; infant-mother interaction; madre-infante; maltraitance durant l'enfance; mère-nourrisson; parentage; postpartum depression; stress; 児童期の虐待; 母嬰; 母親-乳児; 童年虐待; 育児; 育兒.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Mother-Child Relations / psychology*
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Observational Studies as Topic