Citation

Zhang Y, Shen F. Violence Against Women 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/10778012241251972

PMID

38751079

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.

Language: en

Keywords

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