The role of attachment representation in the relationship between childhood maltreatment, mental health and parental load: A mediation analysis

Background: Parents with childhood maltreatment (CM) have a higher risk to transmit their ex-periences. It has been found that adults with CM show a incidence of psychological problems. Objective: Parental attachment representations (AR) have been considered as a possible mediator of the relationship between CM and mental health (MH). Additionally, insecure especially un-resolved attachment and CM are associated with more impaired parenting behaviors. Participants and setting: 271 mothers were investigated for CM, MN as well as parental load. Methods: AR was assessed, which distinguishes between four different ARs. Results: Four-way classified ARs partially mediated the association between the presence vs. absence of CM and MH problems. Both the total effect and the direct effect were significant (path c; B = 11.67, p < .001, path c & PRIME;; B= 9.91, p < .001, 95 %-CI [5.51, 14.13], path a; B = 0.51, p < .001, 95 %-CI [0.29, 0.73], path b; B = 3.45, p = .011, 95 %-CI [0.83, 7.17]). MH problems significantly predicted the parental load in a multiple linear regression beyond the impact of CM experiences and ARs. Conclusion: AR seems to be an important prerequisite for a certain stress resilience in dealing with the child and the parental role.

Automated summary

Parents with childhood maltreatment have a higher risk of passing on their experiences, and parental attachment representations may mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and mental health.