Methods: This cross-sectional study collected self-report questionnaires measuring trauma symptoms (TSC-40), mindfulness (FFMQ), depression (EPDS), and brief potential for child abuse (BCAP) from expecting, low-SES parents (N=102, 51 mothers, and 51 fathers) in Detroit. Parents were recruited from obstetric and social service agencies. Biological parents expecting a singleton, uncomplicated birth were included. Demographic information was also collected. 57.6% of parents are African American and 28.3% are Caucasian with approximately half living beneath the Federal Poverty Line. Bivariate and logistic regressions were used in SPSS to examine depression, mindfulness, trauma and potential for child abuse.
Results: 32.3% of the sample experienced elevated depression symptoms (EPDS>9) and 16% had diagnosable PTSD (PCL-C) with no significant difference in gender. Results show a positive correlation of depression and trauma (r=0.67), a positive correlation of potential for child abuse and trauma (r=0.53) and depressive (r=0.53) symptoms and a negative correlation of mindfulness and child abuse potential (r=-0.38) was found. Logistic regression indicates the model is significant 86.7% of the time and mindfulness alone predicts potential for child abuse (OR=0.80).
Implications: The findings of this study suggest the capacity for mindful thinking may decrease as depression and trauma symptoms increases. Also, an increased level of dispositional mindfulness may be a protective factor against child abuse and harsh parenting. Interventions designed to increase parent’s mindfulness may reduce harsh parenting and improve child well-being. Due to the high prevalence of depression and PTSD and strong correlations between depressive and trauma symptomology, mindfulness interventions should be trauma-informed, especially when working in more vulnerable populations.