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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Marjorie Beeghly
Abstract
The present study examined intergenerational pathways linking maternal childhood maltreatment (CM) to children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms during early childhood, and explored whether the quality of mother-child interaction, dyadic mutuality, moderated these associations. Participants included 151 mother-child dyads (children age 3 years) drawn from a longitudinal study of predominantly Black, low-income families living in an urban setting. Mothers completed self-report measures of CM history and current depressive symptoms, while child behavior was assessed through maternal report. Mother-child mutuality was coded during a structured teaching task designed to elicit mild frustration. Results from a moderated mediation model revealed that maternal depressive symptoms significantly mediated the association between maternal CM and both child internalizing and externalizing problems. Dyadic mutuality moderated several of these associations, such that higher mutuality buffered the indirect effect of maternal CM on child internalizing symptoms through maternal depression. However, this buffering effect did not extend to externalizing outcomes. Findings underscore the role of maternal mental health as a key mechanism in the intergenerational transmission of risk, while also highlighting the protective potential of emotionally attuned parent-child interactions, particularly in the context of child internalizing difficulties. Implications for culturally responsive interventions that support maternal well-being and early relational quality in Black and low-income families are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Atalla, Mareena, "Mother-Child Interaction Quality As A Protective Factor In The Intergenerational Transmission Of Trauma-Related Risk And Maternal Depressive Symptoms" (2025). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4275.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4275