Kristin W Samuelson1, Christina K Wilson2, Elena Padrón3, Suellen Lee4, Lauren Gavron3. 1. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. 2. Atlanta VA Medical Center, Emory University School of Medicine. 3. California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University. 4. Westcoast Children's Clinic.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a risk factor for negative child adjustment, but it is unclear whether this association is direct (e.g., a mother's PTSD symptoms are observed, learned, and internalized by children which results in behavioral and emotional problems) or indirect, through parent-child relationship difficulties or parenting stress. We hypothesized that parenting stress and maternal emotional availability would exhibit indirect effects on relationships between maternal PTSD and children's functioning. METHOD: Participants were 52 trauma-exposed mothers and their children (aged 7-12 years). Mothers completed measures of PTSD and parenting stress and reported on their children's functioning. Emotional availability was assessed through observer-rated mother-child interactions. RESULTS: Emotional availability was not related to PTSD or child outcomes. Parenting stress had a substantial indirect effect on the relationships between maternal PTSD and child emotion regulation, internalizing, and externalizing behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the need to target parenting stress in interventions with trauma-exposed families.
OBJECTIVES:Maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a risk factor for negative child adjustment, but it is unclear whether this association is direct (e.g., a mother's PTSD symptoms are observed, learned, and internalized by children which results in behavioral and emotional problems) or indirect, through parent-child relationship difficulties or parenting stress. We hypothesized that parenting stress and maternal emotional availability would exhibit indirect effects on relationships between maternal PTSD and children's functioning. METHOD:Participants were 52 trauma-exposed mothers and their children (aged 7-12 years). Mothers completed measures of PTSD and parenting stress and reported on their children's functioning. Emotional availability was assessed through observer-rated mother-child interactions. RESULTS: Emotional availability was not related to PTSD or child outcomes. Parenting stress had a substantial indirect effect on the relationships between maternal PTSD and child emotion regulation, internalizing, and externalizing behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the need to target parenting stress in interventions with trauma-exposed families.
Authors: Georgina Hartzell; Anaïs F Stenson; Sanne J H van Rooij; Ye Ji Kim; L Alexander Vance; Rebecca Hinrichs; Nadine Kaslow; Bekh Bradley; Tanja Jovanovic Journal: Psychol Trauma Date: 2020-01-09