Maternal adverse childhood experiences and preschool children's behavioral problems: exploring mediation via an adapted measure of adult attachment pattern.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mothers' insecure adult attachment pattern (i.e., dismissive, preoccupied) has been proposed to positively mediate the associations between mothers' adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their preschool children's sex-specific behavioral problems. However, findings remain mixed with few focusing on a total score ranging from secure to insecure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to novelly employ the Revised-Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R) questionnaire to explore if (1) mothers' adult attachment pattern measured continuously from secure to insecure mediates the relationship between maternal ACEs and children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors and (2) child sex-assigned-at-birth moderated the effects.

Methods

Data (n = 636) derived

SUBMITTER: Kurbatfinski S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12439478 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature