Childhood maltreatment, adult attachment and parental sense of competence

Background: Recent studies have indicated that childhood maltreatment has an effect on parental sense of competence (PSC). However, this effect is moderately weak, suggesting the existence of other variables, either directly or indirectly related to childhood maltreatment, that could influence PSC. Our study aims to investigate the impact of childhood maltreatment on PSC more precisely by examining the mediating effect of adult attachment.
Methodology: Our sample consisted of 1904 mothers of children aged between 3 and 8 years. They were asked to complete an online questionnaire, including a sociodemographic form, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form, the Questionnaire d'Auto-Évaluation de la Compétence Éducative Parentale, and the Relationship Scale Questionnaire.
Results: Results indicated a cumulative effect of childhood maltreatment on PSC; PSC decreases as the number or frequency of childhood maltreatment experiences increases. They also demonstrated a mediating effect of attachment anxiety on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and PSC. Maternal attachment anxiety appears as a risk factor.
Conclusion: Our findings support the importance of considering mothers' traumatic experiences in the assessment and intervention process. Furthermore, they suggest the relevance of implementing interventions that are sensitive to PSC for mothers who have experienced childhood maltreatment. To achieve this, it is crucial for clinicians to reinforce positive maternal behaviors rather than criticize negative ones. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of working on maternal attachment and relational functioning.