Patterns of Childhood Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence: Associations with Prenatal Depression and Anxiety

Childhood maltreatment (CM) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are two deleterious relational experiences that have significant negative consequences during the prenatal period. The current study had two aims: a) use person-centered analyses to identify classes of pregnant individuals based on exposure to different types of CM and IPV and b) examine the associations between patterns of CM, IPV, prenatal anxiety and prenatal depression symptoms.

Participants were a majority Black sample of 222 pregnant individuals who completed self-report measures of CM, IPV in the last year, depression and anxiety. A latent class analysis was conducted to identify patterns of CM and IPV followed by regression analyses to examine associations with prenatal depression and anxiety.

Four classes of CM and IPV were identified: "no CM," "minor CM," "pervasive CM," and "CM & IPV." The "CM & IPV" class had significantly higher levels of depression symptoms than all other classes, including the "pervasive CM" class. Both the "CM & IPV" class and the "pervasive CM" class had significantly higher anxiety symptoms than the other two classes.

Results suggest that associations between patterns of CM and IPV and mental health during pregnancy are outcome specific and may differ depending on the psychopathology symptoms being assessed. Results can be harnessed by clinicians and policy makers to identify those at risk for psychopathology during the prenatal period.