title: Association of maternal developmental disorder traits with child mistreatment: a prospective study in Japan.
abstract: Maternal mental disorders are known risk factors for child mistreatment. However, little is known about the involvement of maternal developmental disorder traits. The aim of this study was to examine maternal traits related to Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and their possible association with child mistreatment. Maternal PDD and ADHD were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire (N=846) during mid-pregnancy using the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Society Japan Rating Scale (PARS) and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). The mothers completed another questionnaire on child mistreatment when the offspring was approximately 18 months of age. The associations between maternal PDD and ADHD traits and child mistreatment score were analyzed using linear regression models adjusted for covariates. Mothers who exhibited stronger PDD traits showed significantly higher child mistreatment score, even after adjustment for maternal characteristics at baseline and ADHD traits. At the same time, ADHD traits were significantly associated with child mistreatment after adjustment of covariates, although the association became non-significant after adjustment of PDD traits. Mothers who showed PDD and ADHD traits during pregnancy were more likely to mistreat their children. It is essential to educate mothers with such traits with appropriate, easy-to-follow childcare instructions, preferably in simple language combined with pictorial aids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Komagino Hospital, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Abuse; Child maltreatment; Mental health; Pervasive Developmental Disorder