The influence of childhood adversity on mothers' behavior with preschoolers: Role of maternal attachment coherence, dissociative symptoms, and marital behaviors

Relations between mothers' experiences of childhood adversities and emotional and task-related support of their preschoolers were examined. Mothers, n = 48, were observed with their children and partners and assessed with the AAI, SCID, DES, and for marital aggression. Early adverse experiences were coded from interviews. AAI coherence mediated the link between adverse events and other variables, and was associated with secure base behaviors with children. Dissociative symptoms and marital aggression were not associated with maternal behavior, but dissociative symptoms were linked to partners' aggression. Results suggest narrative coherence is a key mechanism linking childhood adversity to later relationship variables.