Potential of Child Abuse and Mindfulness in Urban Expectant Mothers and Fathers

Introduction: Depression during pregnancy effects 15-20% of women and 8-16% of men and places infants at risk for poor outcomes due to effects on parenting behaviors. Prenatal child abuse potential scores have predicted neonatal morbidity and are associated with low birth weight, prematurity and child neglect. Depression has been associated with child abuse potential. Mindfulness interventions may reduce depressive relapse and PTSD symptoms. A gap lies in understanding the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, depression symptoms and the potential for child abuse in high-risk pregnant parents. The objective is to determine if an association exists between mindfulness and depression in pregnancy and if mindfulness may be a protective factor for risk of future child abuse.

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.