Citation

Hock RS, Rabinowitz AG, Bryce CP, Fitzmaurice GM, Jr PTC, Galler JR. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 290: e113016.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113016

PMID

32682171

Abstract

Childhood adversities are linked with mental health problems throughout the life course, including personality pathology. Less is known about consequences in the next generation, particularly in non-Western populations.

In the Barbados Nutrition Study, we assessed associations of two parental (G1) childhood adversities- (1) maltreatment history using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and (2) clinically ascertained infant malnutrition limited to the first year of life-on PD symptoms in their G2 offspring, using NEO FFM PD prototypes.

In linear regression models clustered by family and adjusted for other G1 childhood adversities and family socioeconomic status, we found that G1 parental history of childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with increased G2 offspring Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, and Dependent PD scores. When G1 childhood malnutrition was the exposure of interest, we found a significant association with Schizoid PD scores. When the sample was restricted to offspring of G1 mothers, even more extensive associations with G2 personality pathology were observed.

This study supports a link between parental exposure to childhood adversities and increased personality maladaptivity in the next generation, with some specific patterns worthy of further exploration.

Language: en

Keywords

Longitudinal; Birth cohort study; Early adversity; Global mental health; Intergenerational trauma; Nutrition; Transgenerational trauma