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Using an adoption–biological family design to examine associations between maternal trauma, maternal depressive symptoms, and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 06:22 authored by Aleksandria Perez Grabow, Atika Khurana, Misaki N Natsuaki, Jenae M Neiderhiser, Gordon Harold, Daniel S Shaw, Jody M Ganiban, David Reiss, Leslie D LeveMaternal trauma is a complex risk factor that has been linked to adverse child outcomes, yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. This study, which included adoptive and biological families, examined the heritable and environmental mechanisms by which maternal trauma and associated depressive symptoms are linked to child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Path analyses were used to analyze data from 541 adoptive mother–adopted child (AM–AC) dyads and 126 biological mother–biological child (BM–BC) dyads; the two family types were linked through the same biological mother. Rearing mother’s trauma was associated with child internalizing and externalizing behaviors in AM–AC and BM–BC dyads, and this association was mediated by rearing mothers’ depressive symptoms, with the exception of biological child externalizing behavior, for which biological mother trauma had a direct influence only. Significant associations between maternal trauma and child behavior in dyads that share only environment (i.e., AM–AC dyads) suggest an environmental mechanism of influence for maternal trauma. Significant associations were also observed between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing and externalizing behavior in dyads that were only genetically related, with no shared environment (i.e., BM–AC dyads), suggesting a heritable pathway of influence via maternal depressive symptoms.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Development and PsychopathologyISSN
0954-5794Publisher
Cambridge University PressExternal DOI
Issue
5Volume
29Page range
1707-1720Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-05-23First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-05-22First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-05-23Usage metrics
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