Longitudinal Exploration of Prenatal and Postnatal Intimate Partner Violence, Postpartum Depression, and Child–Mother Attachment: A Mediation Model

Abstract

This longitudinal study examines the timelines of occurrences of intimate partner violence (IPV) on child–mother attachment, as well as the mediating role of maternal postpartum depression (PPD). Using a sample in the United States ( N = 2,268), findings suggest that, compared to mothers’ prenatal IPV victimization, postnatal IPV more negatively influences child–mother attachment when the children were at 3 years old, and this negative impact on attachment was partially mediated through maternal PPD. As IPV screening for pregnant women in healthcare settings becomes a common practice, effective IPV and PPD screening postnatally should be broadly implemented to promote maternal mental health and child–mother attachment.