053 - Testing the Impact of Maternal Childhood Maltreatment and Food Insecurity on Childhood Development and Emerging Psychopathology in Preschoolers Born During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Publication Number: 53.6627

Jill Owen, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; Jennifer M. Warmingham, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Mauricio Espinoza, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Las Condes, Region Metropolitana, Chile; Andreane Lavallee, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Elena Arduin, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Ruiyang Xu, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Cristina R.. Fernandez, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Dani Dumitriu, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States

Background: Maternal history of childhood maltreatment is associated with negative social determinants of health (SDOH) (e.g., economic and food insecurity). Food insecurity (FI) and maternal history of childhood maltreatment each increase risk for delays in developmental milestone attainment, and emerging childhood psychopathology. The unique influences of these factors during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time of elevated economic insecurity, have not been well-researched.

Objective: 1) Evaluate the relationship between maternal history of childhood maltreatment and FI in the 36 months postpartum; 2) test both as predictors of child development and emerging childhood psychopathology (i.e., externalizing and internalizing) among pandemic-born offspring.

Design/Methods: A subset of mothers (n=204) enrolled in the COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes (COMBO) Initiative who gave birth from 5/2020 – 8/2021 completed surveys regarding their history of childhood maltreatment exposure (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) at 2-months postpartum and reported on household FI at multiple timepoints from 2-months to 36-months postpartum. At 36-months postpartum, emerging childhood psychopathology (Child Behavior Checklist) and child development (Survey of Well-Being of Young Children) were assessed via survey. Structural Equation Models were used to evaluate study aims.

Results: Forty-seven mothers (31%) experienced at least one subtype of maltreatment and 74 (36%) experienced FI between 2- and 36-months postpartum. Maternal childhood maltreatment was associated with increased rates of FI (β=.17, p=.02; 51% in maltreatment group, 32% in non-maltreatment group) and higher child externalizing (β=.16, p=.02), but not internalizing symptoms or attainment of developmental milestones (ps>.05). FI uniquely predicted lower child development scores (β=-.20, p=.003), but not child internalizing or externalizing symptoms (ps>.05).

Conclusion(s): Maternal childhood maltreatment significantly predicted both FI and offspring externalizing symptoms; in contrast to the literature, there was no effect on internalizing or development. FI predicted lower child development scores, suggesting it may be a mechanism through which caregiver maltreatment history affects offspring development. Yet, FI did not predict emerging psychopathology, which is unexpected given prior research. Results highlight the importance of understanding social and economic intergenerational risk conferred by maternal maltreatment history. Screening and intervention efforts aimed at addressing SDOH and behavioral/developmental needs are needed to support positive childhood development.

Figure 1. Structural Equation Model Results (n=204)
Notes: CTQ: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, 0 = no maltreatment, 1 = maltreatment; food Insecurity: 0 = no food insecurity, 1 = food insecurity; CBCL: Child Behavior Checklist, total internalizing/externalizing scores; SWYC: Survey of Well-Being of Young Children, total score. Fit: χ2(2)=2.972, p<.05; CFI=.995, RMSEA=.049, SRMR=.022; Covariates: infant sex assigned at birth *p <.05; **p <.01, ***p <.001