Understanding the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and neglect and psychological distress in pregnant women: the role of prenatal attachment.
BMC Psychol
; 12(1): 520, 2024 Oct 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39354645
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Childhood abuse and neglect pose important risk factors for the development of psychopathology during pregnancy. However, only a few studies have assessed the effects of a specific type of abuse during the perinatal period, namely, psychological maltreatment, which includes emotional abuse and neglect. These studies have found that women who have experienced psychological maltreatment exhibit higher levels of antenatal depressive symptoms and greater difficulties forming attachment with their babies than women who have not experienced this kind of adversity. The aim of this study was to examine how emotional abuse and neglect experiences may favor the occurrence of psychological distress in pregnant women, and whether prenatal attachment might explain this association.METHODS:
Participants comprised 128 Italian pregnant women ranging in age from 21 to 46 years (Mage = 33.4; SD = 6.10). Women responded to the following self-report instruments CECA.Q and CTQ-SF, for the assessment of psychological maltreatment experiences; MAAS, for the evaluation of prenatal attachment; and PAMA, for the assessment of perinatal psychological distress.RESULTS:
Pearson correlations revealed a positive association between childhood neglect and perinatal psychological distress and a negative association between childhood neglect and prenatal attachment scores. No significant correlations were found for emotional abuse. Perinatal psychological distress was negatively associated with prenatal attachment. Mediation analyses showed significant associations between childhood neglect and the dimensions of perinatal affectivity and prenatal maternal attachment. Prenatal maternal attachment mediated the relationship between neglect and perinatal psychological distress.CONCLUSIONS:
The transition to motherhood is a sensitive period, particularly for women who have experienced abuse and neglect during childhood. These experiences may negatively impact a woman's disposition to emotionally and behaviorally engage in the formation of a bond with their unborn baby. These results may have important prevention and clinical implications and thus warrant further exploration.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Gestantes
/
Angústia Psicológica
/
Apego ao Objeto
Limite:
Adult
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Female
/
Humans
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Middle aged
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Pregnancy
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Psychol
/
BMC psychology
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália
País de publicação:
Reino Unido