The impact of maternal negative life experiences on the child

Journal title MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA
Author/s Chiara Ionio, Eleonora Mascheroni
Publishing Year 2014 Issue 2014/3
Language Italian Pages 18 P. 87-104 File size 60 KB
DOI 10.3280/MAL2014-003006
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In an attempt to investigate the impact of maternal traumatic experiences on the attachment style and the adjustment behaviour of the child, we conducted a study that used the following instruments: Parenting Stress Index - Short Form (PSI-SF; Guarino et al., 2008), Los Angeles Symptoms Checklist (LASC; King et al., 1995), Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ; Bifulco et al., 2003), Child Behavior Checklist 1½-5 (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2000) and the Attachment Q-Sort (AQS; Cassibba & D’Odorico, 2000). The study, which involved 54 mothers (27 lived in mother-child institution) and their children (48.1% female, aged between 1 and 5 years, M = 2.78, SD = 1.14) has highlighted that having lived negative life experiences impact on the psychological well-being of the mother, on the perception of oneself as a parent, on the relationship with the child and in turn his well-being in terms of adaptation and attachment.

Keywords: Maternal trauma, mother-child interaction, attachment, behaviour disorders

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Chiara Ionio, Eleonora Mascheroni, L'impatto delle esperienze di vita negative della madre sul bambino in "MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA" 3/2014, pp 87-104, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2014-003006