This study evaluated if maternal intimate partner violence (IPV) had indirect effects on sensitive parenting in infancy through prenatal depressive symptoms and postpartum parenting stress and if maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) moderated these indirect effects. We hypothesized that: (a) IPV would be associated with greater prenatal depressive symptoms, which would predict greater postpartum parenting stress, and ultimately less sensitive parenting and (b) the link between IPV and depressive symptoms would be strongest for mothers with high ACEs. Participants included 295 mothers and their infants who were assessed prenatally and at 12 months postpartum. Path analyses indicated that mothers with higher IPV endorsed greater prenatal depressive symptoms, which was in turn associated with postpartum parenting stress, and ultimately less sensitive parenting behavior. Moderation analyses revealed that these indirect effects varied as a function of maternal ACEs, with the link between IPV and depressive symptoms only present for mothers who reported high ACEs. Because less sensitive caregiving is often an early indicator of child maltreatment risk, understanding precursors to sensitivity is critical to increase precision in parenting interventions designed to reduce risk for maltreatment. Results may inform evidence-based preventive interventions for mothers and infants at high-risk for child abuse and neglect.

本研究评估了母亲亲密伴侣暴力 (IPV) 是否通过产前抑郁症状和产后育儿压力对婴儿时期的敏感育儿产生间接影响，以及母亲不良童年经历 (ACE) 是否缓和了这些间接影响。我们假设：（a）IPV 与更大的产前抑郁症状相关，这将预测更大的产后育儿压力，最终降低育儿敏感性；（b）IPV 与抑郁症状之间的联系对于具有高 ACE 的母亲来说是最强的。参与者包括在产前和产后 12 个月时接受评估的 295 名母亲及其婴儿。路径分析表明，IPV 较高的母亲支持更大的产前抑郁症状，这反过来又与产后养育压力有关，以及最终不那么敏感的养育行为。适度分析显示，这些间接影响随母亲 ACE 的变化而变化，IPV 与抑郁症状之间的联系仅存在于报告高 ACE 的母亲身上。由于不太敏感的照料通常是儿童虐待风险的早期指标，因此了解敏感性的先兆对于提高旨在降低虐待风险的育儿干预措施的准确性至关重要。结果可以为处于虐待和忽视儿童高风险的母亲和婴儿提供基于证据的预防干预措施。由于不太敏感的照料通常是儿童虐待风险的早期指标，因此了解敏感性的先兆对于提高旨在降低虐待风险的育儿干预措施的准确性至关重要。结果可以为处于虐待和忽视儿童高风险的母亲和婴儿提供基于证据的预防干预措施。由于不太敏感的照料通常是儿童虐待风险的早期指标，因此了解敏感性的先兆对于提高旨在降低虐待风险的育儿干预措施的准确性至关重要。结果可以为处于虐待和忽视儿童高风险的母亲和婴儿提供基于证据的预防干预措施。