Is maternal exposure to childhood trauma associated with maternal-fetal attachment?

Abstract

Adults with childhood maltreatment history can face a difficult experience in transitioning to parenthood. Women with a history of emotional neglect in childhood tend to experience problematic attachment. The study's aim was to evaluate the relationship between childhood trauma and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women in a population-based study in Southern Brazil. This is a longitudinal study with pregnant women who were interviewed in two moments: before 24-weeks of pregnancy and 60 days after the first interview. We used the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. The mean of maternal-fetal attachment in the general sample was 99.8 (± 10.8). The mean of emotional neglect was 8.9 (± 4.7); physical neglect 6.7 (± 2.8); sexual abuse 5.9 (± 3.0); physical abuse 6.8 (± 3.1) and emotional abuse 8.0 (± 4.1). After adjusted analysis, we found that pregnant women who suffered emotional neglect had 0.4 points less on the average on the maternal-fetal attachment, β = -0.4, CI 95% [-0.6, -0.2], and pregnant women who suffered emotional abuse had 0.2 points less on the average on the maternal-fetal attachment, β = -0.2, CI 95% [-0.5, -0.0]. Only emotional neglect and emotional abuse were associated with maternal-fetal attachment. This study showed that a history of childhood trauma can have a negative impact during the prenatal period, and can impair maternal-fetal attachment. The data found can assist health professionals in identifying factors that can protect and contribute to pregnant women who were victims of childhood trauma to face the transition to parenthood in the best possible way.

The Role of Childhood Trauma on Prenatal Attachment

“…Recently, the interest in factors regarding prenatal attachment has increased and it was determined that there are many factors affecting attachment positively and negatively in the prenatal period. However, few studies have addressed whether there is a relationship between childhood traumas and prenatal attachment (Berthelot et al, 2019; Sancho-Rossignol et al, 2018; Schwerdtfeger and Goff, 2007; Stark Stigger et al, 2020). In a recent study that examined the relationship between childhood traumas and prenatal attachment in pregnant women, it was reported that maternal-fetal attachment is lower in pregnant women who were exposed to emotional neglect and emotional abuse in childhood, and researchers emphasized that expectant mothers who had a history of childhood trauma had difficulties in transitioning to parenthood (Stark Stigger et al, 2020).…”

“…However, few studies have addressed whether there is a relationship between childhood traumas and prenatal attachment (Berthelot et al, 2019; Sancho-Rossignol et al, 2018; Schwerdtfeger and Goff, 2007; Stark Stigger et al, 2020). In a recent study that examined the relationship between childhood traumas and prenatal attachment in pregnant women, it was reported that maternal-fetal attachment is lower in pregnant women who were exposed to emotional neglect and emotional abuse in childhood, and researchers emphasized that expectant mothers who had a history of childhood trauma had difficulties in transitioning to parenthood (Stark Stigger et al, 2020). It was found in another study that pregnant women exposed to domestic violence in childhood had lower prenatal attachment quality to the fetus, their postnatal caregiving behaviors were more dysfunctional, and the infant exhibited more disorders in emotion regulation (Sancho-Rossignol et al, 2018).…”

“…It was reported that women who have a history of childhood trauma have difficulty accepting pregnancy and adapting to pregnancy and the postpartum process (Christie et al, 2018). However, the relationship between childhood traumas and weak and low prenatal attachment was mediated by psychopathology as an important predictor of weak prenatal attachment in the presence of childhood trauma, and participants exposed to childhood maltreatment were more likely to report more psychological health problems during pregnancy than those who were not exposed to such factors (Berthelot et al, 2019;Christie et al, 2018;Huth-Bocks et al, 2013;Muzik et al, 2013;Savage et al, 2019;Stark Stigger et al, 2020). Previous studies also reported that prenatal attachment of expectant mothers with past traumatic experiences is weak because childhood traumas are closely related to psychological health disorders such as depression and anxiety disorder during pregnancy, and because the mother's psychological health is associated with her attachment to her baby in the prenatal period (Berthelot et al, 2019;Hicks et al, 2018;Özcan et al, 2018).…”

“…It was reported that pregnancy can act as a specific triggering factor in the face of traumatic experiences in the childhood of the expectant mother, previous unresolved conflicts can be reactivated, and the pregnant women experience their suppressed feelings of innocence and vulnerability again; in short, pregnancy represents particularly difficult periods for those who have a history of childhood traumas (Bortoletti et al, 2007; Christie et al, 2018; Erdmans and Black, 2008; Jokela et al, 2009; Roberts, 2014; Seng et al, 2010; Stark Stigger et al, 2020). It was also emphasized that pregnancy can be a particularly sensitive period as a frailty period for the expression of preexisting pathological personality traits and the emergence of exacerbated psychiatric symptoms in those who have a history of childhood trauma (Jokela et al, 2009; Seng et al, 2010).…”

“…It was also emphasized that pregnancy can be a particularly sensitive period as a frailty period for the expression of preexisting pathological personality traits and the emergence of exacerbated psychiatric symptoms in those who have a history of childhood trauma (Jokela et al, 2009; Seng et al, 2010). It is considered that all these factors will complicate the transition and adaptation to parenthood, activate problematic attachment representations in the core of the personality, and affect the maternal-fetal attachment process negatively (Christie et al, 2018; Jokela et al, 2009; Roberts, 2014; Stark Stigger et al, 2020). It was reported that women who have a history of childhood trauma have difficulty accepting pregnancy and adapting to pregnancy and the postpartum process (Christie et al, 2018).…”