Childhood abuse, parenting and postpartum depression

While the potential negative effects on children of maternal depression has been documented, the influence of a maternal history of childhood abuse on child development is unclear. This study, the first stage of a 3-year follow-up study, looks at childhood abuse in women with depression in the postpartum period.

Fifty-six women admitted with postpartum depressive disorders were assessed with respect to their wellbeing, relationships and infant interaction. Twenty-eight women had a history of sexual abuse before the age of 16, nine physical/emotional abuse and 19 had no history of abuse.

The mother-infant relationship was seen to be impaired in the sexually abused group (p = 0.007). The significance increased when all abused women were compared to controls (p = 0.001). In addition, abuse was associated with more severe depression on the Beck Depression Inventory (p = 0.046), and a trend to higher anxiety and longer lengths of stay (p = 0.05 for physical abuse). Partners rated themselves as being more skilled and confident parents.

The effect of childhood abuse was indistinguishable between emotional and physical abuse in postpartum depressed women. The most significant effect was a deleterious one on the mother-infant relationship in those women with a history of abuse.