title: Vulnerability to intimate partner violence and poor mental health in the first 4-year postpartum among mothers reporting childhood abuse: an Australian pregnancy cohort study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate intergenerational patterns of abuse and trauma and the health consequences for women in the early childbearing years. A prospective pregnancy cohort of 1507 nulliparous women (≦24 weeks gestation) were recruited in Melbourne, Australia, 2003-2005. Follow-up was scheduled in late pregnancy, 3-, 6- and 12-month and 4-year postpartum. Childhood abuse was retrospectively reported at 4-year postpartum using the Child Maltreatment History Self Report. Intimate partner violence (IPV) was assessed at 1- and 4-year postpartum with the Composite Abuse Scale. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed in all follow-ups using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between childhood abuse, maternal mental health and IPV. Childhood abuse was reported by 41.1 % of women. In the 4 years after having their first child, 28.2 % of women reported IPV, 25.2 % depression and 31.6 % anxiety. Childhood abuse was associated with odds of depression or anxiety 1.5-2.6 times greater and 1.8-3.2 times greater for IPV. Childhood physical abuse remained significantly associated with depression and anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum after adjusting for IPV and stressful life events, while sexual abuse remained significantly associated only with anxiety. Women who begin childbearing with a history of childhood abuse are more vulnerable to IPV and poor mental health. All health care services and agencies in contact with children, young people and families should have adequate training to identify trauma associated with abuse and IPV and provide first line supportive care and referral.
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. deirdre.gartland@mcri.edu.au.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Gartland
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Woolhouse
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|School of Health Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Giallo
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: McDonald
authors: Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hegarty
authors: Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Mensah
authors: Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, and Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Herrman
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Childhood abuse; Cohort study; Intimate partner violence; Maternal health