Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting styles
Abstract Background Maternal history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been found to be associated with children’s health outcomes. However, the underlying mechanisms were unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between maternal ACEs and behavioral problems in their preschool...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00646-3 |
| _version_ | 1797453864698380288 |
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| author | Shengyu Luo Dezhong Chen Chunrong Li Li Lin Weiqing Chen Yan Ren Yuchi Zhang Fenglin Xing Vivian Yawei Guo |
| author_facet | Shengyu Luo Dezhong Chen Chunrong Li Li Lin Weiqing Chen Yan Ren Yuchi Zhang Fenglin Xing Vivian Yawei Guo |
| author_sort | Shengyu Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Maternal history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been found to be associated with children’s health outcomes. However, the underlying mechanisms were unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between maternal ACEs and behavioral problems in their preschool offspring and to explore the potential mediating role of maternal parenting styles in the association. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4243 mother-child dyads in Chengdu, China. Mothers completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) to assess their history of ACEs (i.e., physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, witnessing domestic violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, incarcerated household member, parental separation or divorce, parental death, bullying, and community violence), the short Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran Parent Form (S-EMBU-P) to evaluate their parenting styles (i.e., emotional warmth, rejection, and overprotection), and the 48-item Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-48) to measure behavioral problems in their children. Logistic regression models were established to examine the association between cumulative number of maternal ACEs and children’s behavioral problems. The mediating role of parenting styles in this association was explored by generalized structural equation models (GSEM). Results Of the participating mothers, 85.8% (n = 3641) reported having experienced at least one type of ACE. Children of mothers with ≥2 ACEs showed a significantly increased risk of behavioral problems across all dimensions, including conduct problems, learning problems, psychosomatic problems, impulsive-hyperactive, anxiety, and hyperactivity index, in both crude and adjusted models (all p-values < 0.05). Dose-response patterns were also observed between the cumulative number of maternal ACEs and children’s behavioral problems. In addition, maternal parenting styles of rejection emerged as a significant mediator, accounting for approximately 8.4–15.0% of the associations. Conclusions Our findings indicated an intergenerational association of maternal ACEs with behavioral problems in preschool offspring, which was mediated by maternal parenting styles of rejection. Early screening and targeted intervention strategies are critical to mitigate the downstream consequences of maternal ACEs on young children’s outcomes. Providing support and resources to improve parenting skills may prove beneficial. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:29:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3869fd9020a64dd192a4cfef314f96f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:29:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3869fd9020a64dd192a4cfef314f96f42023-11-26T12:22:03ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002023-08-0117111110.1186/s13034-023-00646-3Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting stylesShengyu Luo0Dezhong Chen1Chunrong Li2Li Lin3Weiqing Chen4Yan Ren5Yuchi Zhang6Fenglin Xing7Vivian Yawei Guo8Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen UniversitySchool of Medicine, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen UniversitySchool of Medicine, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu Jintang County Maternal and Child Health HospitalChengdu Qingyang District Maternal and Child Health HospitalDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Background Maternal history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been found to be associated with children’s health outcomes. However, the underlying mechanisms were unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between maternal ACEs and behavioral problems in their preschool offspring and to explore the potential mediating role of maternal parenting styles in the association. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4243 mother-child dyads in Chengdu, China. Mothers completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) to assess their history of ACEs (i.e., physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, witnessing domestic violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, incarcerated household member, parental separation or divorce, parental death, bullying, and community violence), the short Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran Parent Form (S-EMBU-P) to evaluate their parenting styles (i.e., emotional warmth, rejection, and overprotection), and the 48-item Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-48) to measure behavioral problems in their children. Logistic regression models were established to examine the association between cumulative number of maternal ACEs and children’s behavioral problems. The mediating role of parenting styles in this association was explored by generalized structural equation models (GSEM). Results Of the participating mothers, 85.8% (n = 3641) reported having experienced at least one type of ACE. Children of mothers with ≥2 ACEs showed a significantly increased risk of behavioral problems across all dimensions, including conduct problems, learning problems, psychosomatic problems, impulsive-hyperactive, anxiety, and hyperactivity index, in both crude and adjusted models (all p-values < 0.05). Dose-response patterns were also observed between the cumulative number of maternal ACEs and children’s behavioral problems. In addition, maternal parenting styles of rejection emerged as a significant mediator, accounting for approximately 8.4–15.0% of the associations. Conclusions Our findings indicated an intergenerational association of maternal ACEs with behavioral problems in preschool offspring, which was mediated by maternal parenting styles of rejection. Early screening and targeted intervention strategies are critical to mitigate the downstream consequences of maternal ACEs on young children’s outcomes. Providing support and resources to improve parenting skills may prove beneficial.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00646-3Adverse childhood experiencesIntergenerationBehavioral problemsParenting stylesPreschool childrenMediation |
| spellingShingle | Shengyu Luo Dezhong Chen Chunrong Li Li Lin Weiqing Chen Yan Ren Yuchi Zhang Fenglin Xing Vivian Yawei Guo Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting styles Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Adverse childhood experiences Intergeneration Behavioral problems Parenting styles Preschool children Mediation |
| title | Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting styles |
| title_full | Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting styles |
| title_fullStr | Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting styles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting styles |
| title_short | Maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring: the mediation role of parenting styles |
| title_sort | maternal adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in preschool offspring the mediation role of parenting styles |
| topic | Adverse childhood experiences Intergeneration Behavioral problems Parenting styles Preschool children Mediation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00646-3 |
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