Citation

Talmon A, Horovitz M, Shabat N, Haramati OS, Ginzburg K. Child Abuse Negl. 2019; 88: 445-454.

Affiliation

The Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.12.021

PMID

30623819

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The transition to motherhood involves many challenges that require adjustment; included among them are adapting to body changes, forging a maternal identity, and attaching to the baby. Although these tasks may not be easy for any women, those who experienced emotional neglect during childhood may find them especially difficult.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to examine a model illuminating the mechanism underlying the association between childhood emotional neglect and women's adjustment during pregnancy and the postpartum period. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Three hundred and ninety four Israeli women participated in the study, during their pregnancy (Time 1) and two months postpartum (Time 2).

METHODS: Participants filled out a battery of questionnaires assessing their history of childhood emotional neglect, body experience, maternal self-efficacy, attachment to the fetus/baby, and depression.

RESULTS: Results from structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that childhood emotional neglect was associated with depression at both Time 1 and Time 2. These associations were mediated by the body experience during pregnancy (Time 1) and motherhood (Time 2) as well as by anticipated maternal self-efficacy (Time 1) and maternal self-efficacy (Time 2). The model explained 56% of the variance of postpartum depression (Time 2).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings point to the long-term implications of childhood emotional neglect for women's adjustment to the transition to motherhood. The underlying mechanism suggested by the research model is discussed.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Attachment; Body experience; Childhood emotional neglect; Maternal self-efficacy; Postpartum depression; Transition to motherhood