Prenatal Internalizing Symptoms as a Mediator Linking Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences with Infant Temperament

Background: Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to significantly influence offspring development. However, mediators linking maternal ACEs with infant temperament remain largely unknown. Aims: The current study investigated whether prenatal internalizing symptoms mediate the association between maternal ACEs and infant temperament at two months. Maternal sensitivity/responsiveness during the postpartum period was also examined as a moderator of these associations. Study Design: We used a repeated-measures design, with self-report measures administered during pregnancy. Self-report and observational were also collected at 2 months postpartum. Subjects: The study included a community sample of 64 pregnant women and their infants. Outcome Measures: Participants completed measures assessing their early-life adversity and current depression/anxiety symptoms. At two months postpartum, mothers reported on their infant’s temperament and participated in a parent-child interaction task designed to assess maternal sensitivity/responsiveness. Results and Conclusions: Maternal ACEs indirectly predicted poor self-regulation during early infancy via prenatal internalizing symptoms. Maternal sensitivity/responsiveness was also found to moderate the effects of maternal ACEs on infant regulatory capacity and positive affectivity at two months. Women with ACEs experienced increased internalizing symptoms during pregnancy, which elevated the risk for non-optimal temperament profiles at two months. Sensitive/responsive parenting buffered against the negative effects associated with maternal ACEs. This research has implications for mental health screening procedures during pregnancy and the development of early intervention programs.