Understanding the Pathways between Mothers’ Childhood Maltreatment Experiences and Patterns of Insecure Attachment with Young Children via Symptoms of Depression

Although research has suggested that mothers who experienced childhood maltreatment tend to exhibit heightened risk for attachment difficulties with their young children, less is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. Thus, this study examined mothers’ symptoms of depression as a mediator in the relationship between mothers’ childhood maltreatment experiences and patterns of insecure (i.e., anxious, avoidant, and disorganized) mother–young child attachment. Mothers (N = 146) with children aged 1½-to 5-years provided ratings of their childhood maltreatment experiences, attachment with their young children, and symptoms of depression. Mothers’ symptoms of depression mediated significantly the relationship between mothers’ childhood maltreatment experiences and patterns of insecure mother–young child attachment. These findings suggested that symptoms of depression in the context of mothers’ childhood maltreatment may be related more directly to mother–young child attachment than childhood maltreatment experiences alone. These results demonstrated the importance of promoting trauma-informed parenting interventions for facilitating secure emotional connections between mothers and their young children.