Wang Xiaoyan, Yin Gangzhu, Guo Feng, Hu Haili, Jiang Zhicheng, Li Shuqin, Shao Ziyu, Wan Yuhui
Hefei City Maternal and Child Health & Family Planning Service Center, Hefei, China.
Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, 12485Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
J Interpers Violence. 2022 Nov;37(21-22):NP20311-NP20330. doi: 10.1177/08862605211050093. Epub 2021 Oct 15.
Investigations have found maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) cause an intergenerational danger to their children's health. However, no study has investigated the effects of maternal ACEs on behavioral problems of preschool children in China and gender differences on these effects. This paper aims to investigate the role of maternal ACEs on behavioral problems of preschool children in China and explore gender differences as related to these behavioral problems. Stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 7318 preschool children from 12 districts in Hefei city, China. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on maternal exposure to ACEs and Conners' Parent Rating Scales. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between maternal ACEs and children's behavioral problems. The prevalence of behavioral problems in preschool children was 16.0%, while it was higher among girls (18.4%) than boys (13.92%) (χ = 27.979, < 0.001). The rate of behavioral problems in children in the group of mothers with ACEs was higher than those without ACEs (all < 0.05). Maternal ACEs were associated with increased risk of the behavior problems in preschool children (adjusted OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.45-3.45), and no gender difference (in girls 3.01, 2.38-3.81, in boys 2.79, 2.17-3.58, respectively) was found. Maternal ACEs were associated with increased risk of each type of the behavioral problems of preschool children, except that maternal emotional neglect was not associated with psycho-physical problems, impulse-activities, and anxiety. The only gender differences found were higher conduct problems related to maternal emotional abuse and ACEs and higher anxiety related to maternal physical abuse and community violence in girls compared with boys. Mothers exposured to ACEs are more likely to have children with behavioral health problems in preschool period. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms by which maternal ACEs influence children's behavioral problems.
调查发现，母亲童年期不良经历（ACEs）会对其子女的健康造成代际危害。然而，尚无研究调查中国母亲童年期不良经历对学龄前儿童行为问题的影响以及这些影响中的性别差异。本文旨在调查中国母亲童年期不良经历对学龄前儿童行为问题的作用，并探讨与这些行为问题相关的性别差异。采用分层整群抽样方法，从中国合肥市12个区选取7318名学龄前儿童。通过问卷调查收集母亲童年期不良经历及康纳斯父母评定量表的信息。采用逻辑回归分析母亲童年期不良经历与儿童行为问题之间的关系。学龄前儿童行为问题的患病率为16.0%，女孩（18.4%）高于男孩（13.92%）（χ = 27.979，P < 0.001）。有童年期不良经历的母亲所生子女的行为问题发生率高于无童年期不良经历的母亲所生子女（均P < 0.05）。母亲童年期不良经历与学龄前儿童行为问题风险增加相关（校正比值比2.91，95%可信区间2.45 - 3.45），未发现性别差异（女孩为3.01，2.38 - 3.81；男孩为2.79，2.17 - 3.58）。母亲童年期不良经历与学龄前儿童各类行为问题风险增加相关，但母亲情感忽视与身心问题、冲动活动及焦虑无关。唯一发现的性别差异是，与男孩相比，女孩中与母亲情感虐待和童年期不良经历相关的品行问题更多，与母亲身体虐待和社区暴力相关的焦虑更多。有童年期不良经历的母亲更有可能生育在学龄前出现行为健康问题的子女。需要进一步研究以探索母亲童年期不良经历影响儿童行为问题的机制。
