Longitudinal Exploration of Prenatal and Postnatal Intimate Partner Violence, Postpartum Depression, and Child–Mother Attachment: A Mediation Model

Ying Zhang, Fei Shen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This longitudinal study examines the timelines of occurrences of intimate partner violence (IPV) on child–mother attachment, as well as the mediating role of maternal postpartum depression (PPD). Using a sample in the United States (N = 2,268), findings suggest that, compared to mothers’ prenatal IPV victimization, postnatal IPV more negatively influences child–mother attachment when the children were at 3 years old, and this negative impact on attachment was partially mediated through maternal PPD. As IPV screening for pregnant women in healthcare settings becomes a common practice, effective IPV and PPD screening postnatally should be broadly implemented to promote maternal mental health and child–mother attachment.

Original languageEnglish
JournalViolence Against Women
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • attachment
  • longitudinal
  • postnatal intimate partner violence
  • postpartum depression
  • prenatal intimate partner violence

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Longitudinal Exploration of Prenatal and Postnatal Intimate Partner Violence, Postpartum Depression, and Child–Mother Attachment: A Mediation Model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this