The long reach of adversity: Intermediary pathways from maternal adverse childhood experiences to child socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes.

BACKGROUND

This longitudinal study with multi-informant (maternal, paternal, and experimenter) and multimethod (questionnaires, behavioral observations, and standardized assessments) data tests an intergenerational model from mothers' adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to their children's socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes.

METHODS

Participants were 501 children (50.7% male) and caregivers (56.5% white) followed from child age 2 months to 5 years. Mothers reported on their ACEs, as well as their postnatal socio-economic status (SES), marital conflict, and depressive symptoms. Observers rated maternal sensitivity using validated coding systems. Partners' history of childhood conduct problems and children's emotional and conduct problems were rated by mothers and fathers, and cognition was assessed by experimenters using standardized assessments.

RESULTS

Maternal ACEs score was associated with children's socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes through unique intermediary pathways. Specifically, maternal ACEs were related to child emotion problems through SES, paternal history of conduct problems, and maternal depression. Maternal ACEs to child conduct problems operated via SES, paternal history of conduct problems, and marital conflict. Maternal ACEs to child cognitive skills operated through SES and maternal sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal ACEs, economic stress, and paternal history of conduct problems may collectively strain families, diverting caregiver attention and resources, which may impact childrearing and children's development. To effectively address root causes of intergenerational risks, it is critical to advocate for resources and supports that mitigate these hardship conditions. In addition, interventions that target modifiable individual and family factors may hold the greatest promise for breaking cycles of generational risk and promoting healthier outcomes for children and families.