Perinatal Promotive and Protective Factors for Women with Histories of Childhood Abuse and Neglect
Publication Date
5-2019
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology
Keywords
Protective factor, Promotive factor, Resilience, Perinatal period, Childhood adversity, Developmental psychopathology
Abstract
Background
Integrative research summarizing promotive and protective factors that reduce the effects of childhood abuse and neglect on pregnant women and their babies’ healthy functioning is needed.
Objective
This narrative systematic review synthesized the quantitative literature on protective and promotive factors that support maternal mental health and maternal-infant bonding among women exposed to childhood adversity, including childhood abuse and neglect.
Methods
Using a comprehensive list of key terms related to the perinatal period, childhood adversity, and protective/promotive factors, 8423 non-duplicated articles were identified through database searches in PsychInfo and Web of Science, and references in retrieved articles. Thirty-seven full text articles were inspected; of those 18 were included.
Results
Protective and promotive factors fell into three categories: a) women’s internal capacities (e.g., self-esteem, coping ability), b) external early resources (e.g., positive childhood experiences) and c) external contemporaneous resources (e.g., social support). Although all three categories were associated with more resilient outcomes, external contemporaneous factors, and specifically, social support, were the most commonly-studied protective and/or promotive factor. Social support from family and romantic partners during the perinatal period was particularly protective for women with histories of childhood abuse and neglect and was examined across several dimensions of support and contexts.
Conclusions
The presence of women’s internal capacities, and external early and contemporaneous resources help to foster more positive outcomes during the perinatal period for women with histories of childhood adversity. Future research should study co-occurring multilevel promotive and protective factors to inform how they integratively deter the intergenerational transmission of risk.
Copyright Date
3-2-2019
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Publication Statement
Copyright held by Elsevier Ltd. User is responsible for all copyright compliance. This article was originally published as:
Atzl, V. M., Grande, L. A., Davis, E. P., & Narayan, A. J. (2019). Perinatal promotive and protective factors for women with histories of childhood abuse and neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect, 91, 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.02.008
Accepted Manuscript is openly available through the "Link to Full Text" button.
The published Version of Record is available at libraries through Compass or Worldcat.
Rights Holder
Elsevier Ltd.
Provenance
Received from CHORUS
Language
English (eng)
Publication Title
Child Abuse & Neglect
Volume
91
First Page
63
Last Page
77
ISSN
1873-7757
Recommended Citation
Atzl, V. M., Grande, L. A., Davis, E. P., & Narayan, A. J. (2019). Perinatal promotive and protective factors for women with histories of childhood abuse and neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect, 91, 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.02.008