The relationship between maternal experiences of abuse and maternal sensitivity in early mother-infant interactions

Although often assumed to be the case, the evidence for an association between maternal experiences of lifetime abuse and maternal sensitivity in early mother-infant interactions is inconclusive. Few studies have used observational measures of parental sensitivity, investigated maternal abuse across the lifespan, and included contextual explanatory variables when examining the relationship between maternal abuse history and parental sensitivity. This study aimed to address these gaps and hypothesised that maternal experiences of abuse are associated with lower parental sensitivity.

A secondary data analysis of a cohort study of 197 mother-infant dyads, recruited in early pregnancy and followed up at 28-weeks' gestation and 3-months postpartum. Detailed information on sociodemographic, mental health and history of lifetime abuse experiences were collected during pregnancy. At 3-months postpartum, mother-infant interactions were filmed and coded to measure maternal sensitivity.

There was insufficient evidence to support the primary hypothesis that maternal experiences of abuse are associated with decreased sensitivity in interactions with their 3-month-old infants (B = -0.72, 95% CI -1.55 - 0.12). Trauma symptoms, social support, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors did predict maternal sensitivity, although in the fully adjusted model only ethnicity independently predicted sensitivity (B = -1.69, 95% CI -2.86 - -0.52).

Although abuse did not independently predict sensitivity, abuse was associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, poorer social support, trauma and mental health problems, all of which can impact on sensitive parenting. Interventions to support parent-infant relationships are important for tackling health inequalities and need to be trauma focused.