Narayan Angela J, Ippen Chandra Ghosh, Harris William W, Lieberman Alicia F
University of California, San Francisco and University of Denver.
University of California, San Francisco.
Infant Ment Health J. 2017 Jul;38(4):461-474. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21653. Epub 2017 Jul 4.
This pilot study provides the first empirical test of the concept of "Angels in the Nursery" by examining whether childhood memories of benevolent caregiving experiences protect against heightened levels of psychopathology in high-risk mothers. The study hypothesized that (a) elaborated childhood memories of feeling loved by a caregiver ("angel memories") would moderate adulthood posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in mothers with childhood maltreatment histories, and (b) spontaneous traumatic intrusions ("ghost memories") would mediate childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms. Participants were 54 mothers (M = 32.79 years, SD = 8.91; 59.2% African American, 13.0% Caucasian, 5.6% Latina, 22.2% biracial/multiracial) who completed standardized assessments of childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms, and a novel instrument, the Angels in the Nursery Interview ("Angels Interview," Van Horn, Lieberman, & Harris, 2008). Results showed that angel memories significantly moderated childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms, consistent with a protective effect. Higher levels of ghost memories during the Angels Interview were significantly associated with more extensive childhood maltreatment, but did not mediate maltreatment and PTSD symptoms. Findings indicate that the Angels Interview can identify pathogenic intrusions rooted in childhood maltreatment and protective factors to promote maternal mental health and buffer the intergenerational transmission of trauma.
这项初步研究通过考察童年时期仁慈照料经历的记忆是否能预防高危母亲心理病理学水平的升高，首次对“育儿室中的天使”这一概念进行了实证检验。该研究假设：（a）对被照料者关爱（“天使记忆”）的详尽童年记忆会减轻有童年虐待史母亲的成年期创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状；（b）自发性创伤侵入（“幽灵记忆”）会在童年虐待和成年期PTSD症状之间起中介作用。研究参与者为54名母亲（M = 32.79岁，SD = 8.91；59.2%为非裔美国人，13.0%为白人，5.6%为拉丁裔，22.2%为混血/多种族），她们完成了童年虐待和成年期PTSD症状的标准化评估，以及一种新型工具——育儿室中的天使访谈（“天使访谈”，范霍恩、利伯曼和哈里斯，2008年）。结果显示，天使记忆显著减轻了童年虐待和成年期PTSD症状，具有保护作用。在天使访谈中较高水平的幽灵记忆与更广泛的童年虐待显著相关，但并未在虐待和PTSD症状之间起中介作用。研究结果表明，天使访谈能够识别源于童年虐待的致病性侵入以及促进母亲心理健康和缓冲创伤代际传递的保护因素。
