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Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Current Psychosocial Stressors: Exploring Effects on Mental Health and Parenting

Nora L Erickson1, Jessica M Flynn1, Helen G Kim2,3

  • 1Mother‑Baby Program, Department of Psychiatry, and Redleaf Center for Family Healing, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
|January 7, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and current stressors did not significantly impair perinatal mental health outcomes. Trauma-informed care effectively improved maternal functioning and reduced symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Maternal psychology

Background:

  • Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychosocial stressors negatively affect perinatal mental health, birth outcomes, and parenting.
  • Effective perinatal mental health programs are crucial for individuals facing adversity and severe symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a trauma-informed, multi-generation treatment program on perinatal mental health.
  • To examine the relationship between ACEs, psychosocial stressors, and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • The Mother-Baby Day Hospital provided trauma-informed treatment to perinatal women.
  • Data included pre- and post-treatment assessments of depression, anxiety, maternal functioning, ACEs, and psychosocial stressors.
  • Bivariate tests and regression models analyzed the predictors of post-treatment symptoms.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of ACEs and psychosocial stressors was observed among patients.
  • Pre-treatment symptoms were the strongest predictors of post-treatment outcomes.
  • ACEs and food insecurity showed a marginal effect on post-treatment depression and maternal functioning, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • Current psychosocial stressors and ACEs did not substantially limit improvements in depression, anxiety, and maternal functioning.
  • The high prevalence of adversity underscores the need for trauma-informed, multi-generation treatments.
  • Such programs are vital for enhancing maternal mental health and parenting capacity.
Abstract

Keywords:
Adverse childhood experiencesMulti-generation treatmentPartial hospital programPerinatal psychiatric illness

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