Results suggest involvement of the OT system in the cross-generational transfer of vulnerability, as well as resilience, from depressed mothers to their children. Because the OT system is open to interventions that enhance maternal touch and contact, findings have important implications for targeted early dyadic inventions.

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Recent literature identifies childbirth as a potentially traumatic event, following which mothers may develop symptoms of Post‐Traumatic‐Stress‐Following‐Childbirth (PTS‐FC). The current study examines whether stable symptoms of PTS‐FC during the early postpartum period may impose risk for perturbations in maternal behavior and infant social‐engagement with mother, controlling for comorbid postpartum internalizing symptoms. Mother‐infant dyads (N = 192) were recruited from the general population, during the third trimester of pregnancy. 49.5% of the mothers were primipara, and 48.4% of the infants were girls. Maternal PTS‐FC was assessed at 3‐day, 1‐month and 4‐month postpartum, via self‐report and clinician‐administered interview. Latent Profile Analysis generated two profiles of symptomology: “Stable‐High‐PTS‐FC” (17.0%), and “Stable‐Low‐PTS‐FC” (83%). Membership in the “Stable‐High‐PTS‐FC” profile associated with perturbed maternal sensitivity, which was in turn significantly associated with infant avoidance of social gaze toward mother (Indirect effect β = −0.15). Results suggest the need for early screening and inform the planning of early preventive interventions.

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